## 1 Introduction  
The common cold is the world's most common respiratory disease among people of all ages [1]. It is an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract (URTI) with symptoms, such as a sore throat, cough, cold, and discomfort, lasting up to 14 days [2; 3]. In a given year, each adult suffers from a cold one to three times, while children, experiencing up to eleven colds per year, are much more frequently affected [4; 5]. URTIs are usually of viral origin and can be caused by a variety of different viruses, such as adenoviruses, coronaviruses, and, above all, human rhinoviruses (RV) [6]. Rhinoviruses are responsible for up to two-thirds of all infections of the upper respiratory tract and cause up to 80% of all URTIs during the high season in autumn [7]. Regardless of the season, rhinoviruses are the most frequently detected viruses in the upper respiratory tract and, thus, the most widespread infectious agents in humans worldwide [8; 9]. Although this is a self-limiting disease that requires symptomatic treatment at most and it is usually of viral origin, up to 30% of these visits to the doctor result in incorrect prescription of antibiotics due to inadequate diagnostic procedures, which contributes to the development of microbial resistance [6]. Human rhinoviruses are 30 nm in diameter and non-enveloped viruses of the genus _Enterovirus_ within the family of _Picornaviridae_[10]. They possess a single-stranded ribonucleic acid genome comprising about 7.2 kilobases and is surrounded by an icosahedral capsid. Its genome consistsof only one gene whose expressed polyprotein is cleaved by virally encoded proteases into smaller proteins following translation in host cells [11]. Four of these proteins (VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4) are structural proteins and form the capsid, while the remaining non-structural proteins are involved in viral replication [3]. Currently, more than 100 rhinovirus serotypes are known, which are divided into three different species (RV-A, RV-B, and RV-C) [11]. Their classification is primarily based on the receptor used for cell entry and genetic differences. More than 90% of the species of RV-A and RV-B use the membrane-bound intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) to enter a host cell [12; 13]. Therefore, ICAM-1 is considered the main receptor for rhinoviruses, whose expression in nasal and bronchial epithelial cells is additionally enhanced by the viral infection [14; 15]. RV is mainly transmitted between humans via direct contact with infected persons or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces [16; 17]. Since rhinoviruses can survive on the skin for several hours, both types of transmission are due to contamination of the hands with nasal secretions of the infected person [18]. The viruses are then introduced into the body via the fingertips and contact with the eyes or nose [19]. They can also be transmitted via aerosols caused by coughs, which primarily consist of saliva and are about 30 times less contaminated with virus particles than nasal secretions [18]. The transmission rate is strongly dependent on the duration of exposure [20]. Although respiratory infections have a bacterial origin in only 10% of all cases, they are frequently treated with antibiotics, which contribute enormously to the formation of antibiotic resistance [6]. In addition to the mostly harmless URTIs, rhinoviruses are associated with more severe infections of the lower respiratory tract, including severe bronchiolitis in infants and children, pneumonia in immunosuppressed adults, and the development of asthma [3]. Furthermore, RV infections can lead to exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma [21]. Nevertheless, to date, there are hardly any drugs or medical devices on the market that are specifically designed to treat or prevent rhinovirus infections.