Ionizing Radiation as a Non-invasive Treatment for COVID-19 Patients-A Perspective Review

Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single-stranded positive RNA virus surrounded by four structural proteins which are envelope, membrane, spike and nuclear capsid. This virus was identified at the end of 2019 and caused respiratory illness (i.e. coronavirus disease 2019: COVID-19). There is no specific vaccine or medication for the COVID-19 and current treatment relies on existing drugs including anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agents. Here, we describe the potential use electromagnetic radiation to treat COVID-19 infected individuals. The electromagnetic radiation, particularly UV-C has so far proved to be highly effective as coronavirus disinfectant method on medical instruments and material surfaces. Photochemical mechanisms of UV-C with human cell could alter the single strand RNA and effective to obtain photodimeric lesions in nucleic acid of the virus. Inactivation mechanisms by photodimers induced in genome commonly lead to mutagenesis, where base pairing during viral RNA replication will be interfere usually at pyrimidine dimers. Therefore, application of UV-C at moderate intensities within periodical irradiation on patient might be useful to inactivate RNA of SARS-CoV-2 and can be used as an alternative for non-invasive treatment of COVID-19 patients.