Antiviral nanoparticles
Millions of people around the world die from viral infections every year. Existing antiviral drugs have a narrow spectrum of action – against one or more viruses. Broad-spectrum drugs that prevent the introduction of the virus into a living cell exist, but they usually need to be taken constantly. In addition, the ability of viruses to mutate and "hide" from the effects of drugs and the body's immune system is a big problem.
An international team of researchers from the USA, Italy, Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic has developed antiviral nanoparticles effective against a wide range of viruses. The mechanism of action of nanoparticles differs from known antiviral drugs: they not only prevent the virus from entering cells, but also destroy it.
The new nanoparticles mimic the cell surface protein heparan sulfate proteoglycan (heparan sulfate proteoglycan, HSPG).
A significant part of viruses, including HIV, are introduced into the cell by connecting with the HSPG protein on its surface. There are antiviral drugs that contain HSPG and bind viruses, but the strength of the formed bonds is not strong enough, and with a decrease in their concentration in the blood, the viruses are reactivated. Thus, the goal of the researchers was to create nanoparticles that could firmly bind viruses and destroy them.
During the work, attention was drawn to the fact that the same nanoparticles formed bonds with viruses of varying degrees of strength. Using modeling methods, the researchers managed to solve this problem and design the nanoparticles in such a way as to obtain the maximum antiviral effect.
Models of different types of viruses were created, and the structure of nanoparticles was determined down to each atom.
An in-depth study of the interaction between the structures of the virus and nanoparticles allowed researchers to assess the strength and duration of the bond formed, as well as predict how this bond will change over time and, finally, destroy the virus.
A molecular dynamic model demonstrating the binding of a nanoparticle to the envelope (capsid) of the human papillomavirus. Picture: Petr Kral.
As a result, antiviral nanoparticles capable of irreversibly binding viruses and producing lethal changes in them were created. At the same time, healthy cells and tissues remained intact. An in vitro study of nanoparticles has shown their effectiveness against herpes simplex viruses, Dengue, papillomaviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, lentiviruses and others.
The study provided sufficient data to create a prototype of the drug, the effectiveness and safety of which should be further investigated in animals and humans and which may soon open a new chapter in the human fight against viruses.
Article by Valeria Cagno et al. Broad-spectrum non-toxic antiviral nanoparticles with a virucidal inhibition mechanism is published in the journal Nature Materials.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of UIC Today: Designer nanoparticles destroy a broad array of viruses.