Increased in vitro Anti‐HIV Activity of Caffeinium‐Functionalized Polyoxometalates

Abstract

Polyoxometalates (POMs), molecular metal oxide anions, are inorganic clusters with promising antiviral activity. Herein we report increased anti-HIV-1 activity of a POM when electrostatically combined with organic counter-cations. To this end, Keggin-type cerium tungstate POMs have been combined with organic methyl-caffeinium (Caf) cations, and their cytotoxicity, antiviral activity and mode of action have been studied. The novel compound, Caf 4 K[β 2 -CeSiW 11 O 39 ] × H 2 O, exhibits sub-nanomolar antiviral activity and inhibits HIV-1 infectivity by acting on an early step of the viral infection cycle. This work demonstrates that combination of POM anions and organic bioactive cations can be a powerful new strategy to increase antiviral activity of these inorganic compounds.

Expanding the reactivity of inorganic clusters towards proteins: the interplay between the redox and hydrolytic activity of Ce(iv)-substituted polyoxometalates as artificial proteases

“…Considering the wide range of reported biological applications of inorganic clusters, [57][58][59][60][61] this study also contributes to their development as inorganic drugs with antibacterial, antiviral and antitumor properties.…”