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Updated: Oct 19, 2025
Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance
Published on: June 14, 2022
Effective SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity of hyperbranched polylysine nanopolymers
Luigi Stagi1, Davide De Forni2, Luca Malfatti1
1Laboratorio di Scienza dei Materiali e Nanotecnologie (LMNT), Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, CR-INSTM, Università di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07041 Sassari, Italy. plinio@uniss.it.
Insights
A novel L-lysine-derived polymeric nanomaterial shows antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. This low-cost, safe nanomaterial effectively inhibits viral replication, offering a promising new treatment for COVID-19 and future viral threats.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Virology
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths globally, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatments beyond vaccines and behavioral interventions.
- Existing antiviral treatments like Remdesivir have limitations in safety and efficacy, necessitating the development of new therapeutic strategies.
- The emergence of new coronaviruses underscores the demand for broad-spectrum antiviral agents with favorable safety profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a novel polymeric nanomaterial with potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.
- To evaluate the in vitro safety and efficacy of the synthesized nanomaterial as a potential COVID-19 therapeutic.
- To explore the potential of L-lysine-derived nanomaterials as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.
Main Methods:
- Hyperbranched polylysine nanoparticles were synthesized via thermal polymerization of L-lysine, catalyzed by boric acid.
- The antiviral activity of the synthesized nanoparticles against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed in vitro.
- The safety profile of the nanomaterial was evaluated through in vitro studies.
- The virucidal mechanism was investigated, focusing on charge and dimensional interactions with the virus.
Main Results:
- Polymeric nanoparticles derived from L-lysine demonstrated significant inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro.
- The nanomaterial exhibited a favorable safety profile in preliminary in vitro assessments.
- Virucidal activity was attributed to electrostatic interactions between the nanomaterial's charge and dimensions and the viral surface.
- The synthesized nanoparticles were found to be slightly larger than the virions, facilitating interaction.
Conclusions:
- L-lysine-derived hyperbranched polylysine nanoparticles represent a promising new class of antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2.
- The nanomaterial's low-cost production and ease of synthesis support its further development for COVID-19 treatment.
- This innovative nanomaterial holds potential as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent for future emergent coronaviruses.
- The study highlights the therapeutic potential of engineered nanomaterials in combating viral pandemics.
Abstract:
The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) had spread rapidly since December 2019, when it was first identified in Wuhan, China. As of April 2021, more than 130 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 3 million deaths, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Different approaches must be put in place to confront a new pandemic: community-based behaviours (i.e., isolation and social distancing), antiviral treatments, and vaccines. Although behaviour-based actions have produced significant benefits and several efficacious vaccines are now available, there is still an urgent need for treatment options. Remdesivir represents the first antiviral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for COVID-19 but has several limitations in terms of safety and treatment benefits. There is still a strong request for other effective, safe, and broad-spectrum antiviral systems in light of future emergent coronaviruses. Here, we describe a polymeric nanomaterial derived from L-lysine, with an antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 associated with a good safety profile in vitro. Nanoparticles of hyperbranched polylysine, synthesized by L-lysine's thermal polymerization catalyzed by boric acid, effectively inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replication. The virucidal activity is associated with the charge and dimension of the nanomaterial, favouring the electrostatic interaction with the viral surface being only slightly larger than the virions' dimensions. Low-cost production and easiness of synthesis strongly support the further development of such innovative nanomaterials as a tool for potential treatments of COVID-19 and, in general, as broad-spectrum antivirals.
