Polyoxometalate exerts broad-spectrum activity against human respiratory viruses hampering viral entry

Human respiratory viruses have an enormous impact on national health systems, societies, and economy due to the rapid airborne transmission and epidemic spread of such pathogens, while effective specific antiviral drugs to counteract infections are still lacking. Here, we identified two Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs), [TiW₁₁CoO₄₀]^8- (TiW₁₁Co) and [Ti₂PW₁₀O₄₀]^7- (Ti₂PW₁₀), endowed with broad-spectrum activity against enveloped and non-enveloped human respiratory viruses, i.e., coronavirus (HCoV-OC43), rhinovirus (HRV-A1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV-A2), and adenovirus (AdV-5). Ti₂PW₁₀ showed highly favorable selectivity indexes against all tested viruses (SIs >700), and its antiviral potential was further investigated against human coronaviruses and rhinoviruses. This POM was found to inhibit replication of multiple HCoV and HRV strains, in different cell systems. Ti₂PW₁₀ did not affect virus binding or intracellular viral replication, but selectively inhibited the viral entry. Serial passaging of virus in presence of the POM revealed a high barrier to development of Ti₂PW₁₀-resistant variants of HRV-A1 or HCoV-OC43. Moreover, Ti₂PW₁₀ was able to inhibit HRV-A1 production in a 3D model of the human nasal epithelium and, importantly, the antiviral treatment did not determine cytotoxicity or tissue damage. A mucoadhesive thermosensitive in situ hydrogel formulation for nasal delivery was also developed for Ti₂PW₁₀. Overall, good biocompatibility on cell lines and human nasal epithelia, broad-spectrum activity, and absence of antiviral resistance development reveal the potential of Ti₂PW₁₀ as an antiviral candidate for the development of a treatment of acute respiratory viral diseases, warranting further studies to identify the specific target/s of the polyanion and assess its clinical potential.