Nanoparticles with lipid core can enhance the infection of epithelial cells with an enterovirus.

Introduction: The effect of maltodextrin-based nanoparticles with an anionic phospholipid core (NPLs) on the infection of a human tumoral cell line with poliovirus (PV) has been studied. Methods: NPLs were synthesized and associated with PV type 1 Sabin strain and the formulations were characterized. PV and PV/NPL formulations were inoculated to HEp-2 cells. Results: The surface charge and the diameter of PV/NPL formulation suggest that viral particles were adsorbed onto NPLs. When HEp-2 cells were inoculated with 1 TCID50/mL PV associated with NPLs, the cytopathic effect appeared obvious; the levels of infectious titer of culture supernatants, and the proportion of VP1-positive cells were higher. The level of intracellular viral RNA extracted from HEp-2 cells inoculated with PV/NPL formulation was higher as well. Conclusion: These results show that NPLs can enhance the infection with a virus and suggest that they might be used in virotherapy to increase the virus-mediated lysis of tumor cells.