Polyvalent Mannuronic Acid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles for Probing Multivalent Lectin-Glycan Interaction and Blocking...

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Nanotechnology
• Virology

Background:

• Multivalent lectin-glycan interactions (MLGIs) are crucial for viral infections and immune responses.
• Understanding MLGI mechanisms is vital for developing targeted glycoconjugate therapeutics.
• Limited biophysical data exists for key MLGIs, hindering research and therapeutic design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of mannuronic acid (ManA) coating on gold nanoparticle (GNP) size and its impact on MLGI affinity.
• To evaluate the antiviral properties of ManA-coated GNPs (GNP-ManA) against viral entry.
• To assess GNP-ManA probes as tools for quantifying MLGI characteristics and enhancing antiviral potency.

Main Methods:

• Production of ManA-coated GNPs (GNP-ManA) in two different sizes.
• Utilized a GNP fluorescence quenching assay to measure MLGI affinities with DC-SIGN/R lectins.
• Assessed the ability of GNP-ManA to block virus entry into host cells.

Main Results:

• GNP-ManA effectively binds to DC-SIGN/R, with larger GNPs exhibiting significantly enhanced MLGI affinity.
• Increasing GNP size also significantly improved the inhibition of DC-SIGN/R-mediated viral entry.
• 13 nm GNP-ManA demonstrated potent inhibition of Ebola virus glycoprotein-driven entry with sub-nM EC50 values.

Conclusions:

• GNP-ManA probes are effective tools for quantifying MLGI characteristics.
• Increasing GNP scaffold size substantially enhances MLGI affinity and antiviral potency.
• ManA-coated GNPs show significant promise as antiviral agents.