Antiviral cyclodextrins
Sugar has been turned into a powerful antiviral drug
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
The revolutionary remedy reduces the risk of developing resistance in the pathogen and does not damage healthy tissues.
A unique broad-spectrum antiviral treatment based on sugar molecules has been developed by a group of scientists from the UK and Switzerland. The first results of preclinical studies show that the experimental drug is effective against herpes simplex virus, ARVI, hepatitis C, HIV and Zika virus.
Article by Jones et al. Modified cyclodextrins as broad-spectrum antivirals is published in the journal Science Advances – VM.
Modern antiviral drugs suppress the reproduction of viruses, preventing the development of the disease. However, the pathogen can mutate and then becomes resistant to treatment. For this reason, a new generation of antiviral drugs is needed that will destroy the pathogen, and not suppress it in the body.
The new drug, which has not yet received a name, demonstrates exactly such properties. It is based on modified sugar molecules – glucose derivatives called cyclodextrins. These molecules are attached to the surface of the virus and destroys its membrane, after which it destroys the pathogen.
What kind of virus was destroyed here under the influence of cyclodextrin, the press release of the University of Manchester Unique new antiviral treatment made using sugar does not say - VM.
The experimental drug has a wide spectrum of action and has already shown effectiveness against a number of respiratory viruses, herpes virus, HIV, hepatitis C, Zika virus.
It is important that the treatment was effective against the pathogen and did not harm healthy cells, the authors stressed.
The results were obtained in the first experiments on cell cultures in the laboratory, as well as in preclinical experiments on mouse models.
According to the researchers, the drug can be effective against a wide range of viruses, including pathogens that have formed resistance to other drugs.
The technology has already been patented. It is planned that after the necessary subsequent stages of research, which should confirm the effectiveness, the antiviral drug will be produced in the form of ointment, spray and other human-friendly means.
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