Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Unfolded Protein Response in HIV-1 Replication and Infectivity
Published on: June 14, 2024
Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) Nanogels with Antiviral Behavior against HIV-1 Infection
Micaela A Macchione1,2, Carlos Guerrero-Beltrán3,4,5,6, Anabella P Rosso1,2
1Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Orgánica. Av. Haya de la Torre esq. Av. Medina Allende, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina.
Abstract:
Stimuli-responsive nanogels offer promising perspectives for the development of next generation formulations for biomedical applications. In this work, poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) nanogels were synthesized varying the concentration of monomer and crosslinking agent. Thus, the inhibitory effect of poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) nanogels against HIV-1 infection is presented for the first time. In particular, we have demonstrated that one of the synthesized poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) nanogels with initial concentration of 80 mg of vinylcaprolactam and 4% of crosslinking agent shows antiviral behavior against HIV-1 infection since this nanogel inhibits the viral replication in TZM.bl target cells.
Related Concept Videos
The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR
What is Behavior?
Behaviorism
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
SN1 Reaction: Stereochemistry
In the first step of an SN1 reaction, the bond between the electrophilic carbon and the leaving group ionizes to generate the carbocation intermediate. The second step of the mechanism is the nucleophilic attack.
In the formed carbocation, the positively charged carbon is sp2 hybridized with a trigonal planar geometry. As all the three substituents lie on the same plane, a plane of symmetry for the...
SN1 Reaction: Kinetics
However, Sir Christopher Ingold and Edward D. Hughes, who studied the kinetics of various nucleophilic substitution reactions, noticed that a tertiary alkyl halide does undergo a nucleophilic substitution reaction in the presence of a weak nucleophile. While studying the substitution...
SN1 Reaction: Mechanism
Firstly, the haloalkane ionizes to generate a carbocation intermediate and a halide ion. This heterolytic cleavage is highly endothermic with large activation energy. The ionization of the substrate, facilitated by a...

