Protective Effects of Liposomal Vitamin C on SARS-CoV-2 Target Viral Entry Genes in Renal Cells.

The kidneys are a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been shown to play an important role in reducing the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2. Recently liposomal drug delivery platforms have demonstrated promising results in enhancing the effectiveness of various therapeutics including infectious diseases. In this study, we designed a liposomal delivery system containing vitamin C to evaluate its antiviral efficacy in COVID-19, focusing on its effects on viral entry gene expression in Vero cells. Vitamin C was loaded into a liposome made up of hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy (polyethylene glycol)-2000], and their physicochemical properties were assessed. Next, the cytotoxicity of free and liposomal vitamin C on the survival of the Vero cell line was evaluated using the MTT assay. In addition, the expression of viral entry genes, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2), key mediators of SARS-CoV-2 entry into kidney cells, was investigated using RTq-PCR. Liposomes were successfully loaded with vitamin C, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 88.03%. The liposomal vitamin C formulation exhibited a brilliant surface morphology as observed by SEM. Both free and liposomal forms of vitamin C showed cytotoxic effects at higher concentrations. Moreover, both forms downregulated the expression of viral entry genes, although the liposomal form showed superior inhibitory performance compared to the free form. The study suggests liposomal vitamin C as a safe, effective treatment for COVID-19 by targeting viral entry genes in kidney cells, protecting them from viral damage and inflammation.