Highly effective suppression of herpes simplex virus type 1 by titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Virology
• Biocompatibility

Background:

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) presents a significant clinical challenge due to drug resistance and infection recurrence.
• Novel antiviral agents are crucial for managing HSV-1 infections.
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are explored for their potential antiviral properties, owing to their photocatalytic activity, low toxicity, and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antiviral efficacy of TiO2 nanoparticles against HSV-1.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility of TiO2 nanoparticles on Vero cells.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles using X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, zeta potential, and SEM.
• Cytotoxicity assessment on Vero cells via neutral red assay.
• Evaluation of antiviral activity through virucidal and post-treatment assays, with viral load quantified by real-time PCR.

Main Results:

• TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 1200 μg/mL.
• Significant HSV-1 inhibition was observed: 95.1% at 400 μg/mL, 98% at 800 μg/mL, and 98.8% at 1200 μg/mL in virucidal tests.
• Post-treatment tests showed even higher inhibition rates, reaching 99.9% at 1200 μg/mL.

Conclusions:

• TiO2 nanoparticles demonstrate potent in vitro antiviral efficacy against HSV-1 in Vero cells.
• The nanoparticles exhibit favorable biocompatibility at concentrations effective for antiviral activity.
• Further in vivo studies are warranted to elucidate the antiviral mechanisms of TiO2 nanoparticles.