A pilot study of the antiviral activity of anionic and cationic polyamidoamine dendrimers against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Abstract

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging virus that causes infection with a potentially fatal outcome. Dendrimers are highly branched molecules that can be added to antiviral preparations to improve their delivery, as well as their intrinsic antiviral activity. Studies on identifying anti-MERS-CoV agents are few. Three types of polyanionic dendrimers comprising the terminal groups sodium carboxylate (generations 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5), hydroxyl (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5), and succinamic acid (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) and polycationic dendrimers containing primary amine (generations 2, 3, 4, and 5) were used to assess their antiviral activity with the MERS-CoV plaque inhibition assay. The hydroxyl polyanionic set showed a 17.36% to 29.75% decrease in MERS-CoV plaque formation. The most potent inhibition of MERS-CoV plaque formation was seen by G (1.5)-16COONa (40.5% inhibition), followed by G(5)-128SA (39.77% inhibition). In contrast, the cationic dendrimers were cytotoxic to Vero cells. Polyanionic dendrimers can be added to antiviral preparations to improve the delivery of antivirals, as well as the intrinsic antiviral activity. K E Y W O R D S antiviral agents, cell cultures, coronavirus, research and analysis methods, virus classification

Nanotechnology for virus treatment

“…Silver-based nanomaterials such as AgNPs, silver nanowires, and silver colloids have been shown to inhibit infections in swine testicle cells caused by the porcine-transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus [ 370 ]. Other types of nanomaterials such as GO–AgNP conjugates [ 371 ] and polyanionic dendrimers [ 372 ] have been shown to inhibit FCoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), respectively. Recently, the antiviral activity of graphene has been utilized in a practical approach, where it was coated directly onto surgical masks for self-sterilization purposes [ 373 ].…”

Antiviral Potential of Nanoparticles—Can Nanoparticles Fight Against Coronaviruses?

“…The hydroxyl polyanionic set showed a 17.36-29.75% decrease in MERS-CoV plaque formation. All of these dendrimers showed excellent antiviral activity against MERS-CoV [147]. The unique properties of dendrimers are due to the presence of numerous surface functional groups, which facilitate conjugation with multiple drugs or targeting ligands.…”

Nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for antiviral therapeutic drugs

“…There was a substantial decrease in viral activity, specifically in the variations of G(1.5)‐16COONa and G(5)‐128SA which yielded a 40% decrease in viral plaque formation. Ultimately, dendrimer-based antiviral treatment is of particular relevance, with its potential connection to the ongoing global pandemic [28] .…”