Novel Wide-Spectrum Virucidal Lipid Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Nanomedicine
• Virology

Background:

• Viral infections pose a global health threat, necessitating advanced antiviral therapies.
• Existing treatments like virustatic and virucidal agents have limitations such as reversible mechanisms or toxicity.
• There is a critical need for novel, safe, and broad-spectrum antiviral strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce POSTAN, a new biocompatible virucidal lipid nanoparticle designed for direct antiviral action.
• To evaluate POSTAN's physicochemical properties, toxicity, safety, and broad-spectrum virucidal efficacy.
• To assess POSTAN's therapeutic potential against respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and RSV.

Main Methods:

• POSTAN was engineered using polyoxyethylene sorbitan oleate (PO) and sodium taurodeoxycholate (ST).
• Physicochemical properties for pulmonary delivery were assessed.
• Cytotoxicity was evaluated in Vero cells and human airway epithelial (HAE) cultures.
• In vivo safety was tested in neonatal mice.
• Virucidal activity was tested against HSV, RSV, Zika virus, CHIKV, and SARS-CoV-2.
• Efficacy was evaluated in HAE cultures and a neonatal RSV mouse model.

Main Results:

• POSTAN exhibited optimal properties for pulmonary delivery and showed minimal to no toxicity in cell cultures and a favorable safety profile in mice.
• POSTAN demonstrated broad-spectrum virucidal activity against multiple viruses by disrupting viral envelopes.
• In HAE cultures, POSTAN significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 titers.
• In a mouse model, POSTAN treatment reduced RSV lung viral titers and mitigated lung pathology.

Conclusions:

• POSTAN is a safe and effective broad-spectrum antiviral agent.
• POSTAN shows promise as a therapeutic platform for respiratory viral infections.
• The nanoparticle's mechanism involves disrupting viral envelopes, offering a novel approach to antiviral therapy.