Key result
Sulfonated nanomaterials demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral activity against heparan sulfate-independent viruses, showing irreversible virucidal activity against influenza A and reversible inhibition against vesicular stomatitis virus.
Why the study?
Viral infections are a leading cause of death worldwide and antivirals are lacking for most viruses, while known heparin-like compounds prevent infection by HSPG-dependent viruses only reversibly.
MUS-coated gold nanoparticles and β-cyclodextrins demonstrate broad-spectrum antiviral activity against non-HSPG-dependent viruses like influenza and VSV.
May enable irreversible antivirals for HSPG-dependent viruses; leaves open in vivo validation before clinical translation.
Viral infections are among the main causes of death worldwide, and we lack antivirals for the majority of viruses. Heparin-like sulfated or sulfonated compounds have been known for decades for their ability to prevent infection by heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)-dependent viruses but only in a reversible way. We have previously shown that gold nanoparticles and β-cyclodextrins coated with mercapto-undecane sulfonic acid (MUS) inhibit HSPG-dependent viruses irreversibly while retaining the low-toxicity profile of most heparin-like compounds. In this work, we show that, in stark contrast to heparin, these compounds also inhibit different strains of influenza virus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which do not bind HSPG. The antiviral action is virucidal and irreversible for influenza A virus (H1N1), while for VSV, there is a reversible inhibition of viral attachment to the cell. These results further broaden the spectrum of activity of MUS-coated gold nanoparticles and β-cyclodextrins.
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Cagno et al. (2020) studied Viral infections (Influenza, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus). Sulfonated nanomaterials (MUS:OT NP and CD1) vs. Untreated controls was evaluated on 50% effective concentration (EC50) for viral inhibition. Sulfonated nanomaterials demonstrated broad-spectrum antiviral activity against heparan sulfate-independent viruses, showing irreversible virucidal activity against influenza A and reversible inhibition against vesicular stomatitis virus.
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