Table 2  Surface-Modified Antiviral AgNPs and Possible Mechanisms of Action
virus  shape  size (nm)  coating  mechanism of action  ref
HIV-1  spherical  1–10  foamy carbon, PVP and BSA  interaction with gp120  (11)
RSV  spherical  –  PVP, BSA, and recombinant F protein (RF 412)  interaction with the G-protein on the virus surface  (26)
H1N1 influenza virus  spherical  2–5  Oseltamivir  inhibition of the activity of neuraminidase and hemagglutinin  (34)
Amantadine  (35)
Zanamivir  (36)
inhibition of accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS)      
HAV, NoV and CoxB4  spherical  –  polyphosphonium-oligochitosans  preventing viral attachment and penetration  (29)
MPV  spherical  10–80  polysaccharide  blocking virus-host cell binding and penetration  (22)
TCRV  spherical  10  polysaccharide  inactivation of virus particles prior to entry  (23)
HSV-1  spherical  4  mercaptoethanesulfonate  competition for the binding of the virus to the cell  (30)
Enterovirus 71 (EV71)  spherical  2–5  PEI and antiviral siRNA  inhibition of the accumulation of ROS and activation of AKT and p53  (37)
HSV-2  spherical  13, 33, 46  tannic acid  direct interaction and blocking of virus attachment, penetration and spread  (28)