Inhibition of A/Human/Hubei/3/2005 (H3N2) influenza virus infection by silver nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted much attention as antimicrobial agents and have demonstrated efficient inhibitory activity against various viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and Tacaribe virus. In this study, we investigated if AgNPs could have antiviral and preventive effects in A/Human/Hubei/3/2005 (H3N2) influenza virus infection. Madin-Darby canine kidney cells infected with AgNP-treated H3N2 influenza virus showed better viability ( P <0.05 versus influenza virus control) and no obvious cytopathic effects compared with an influenza virus control group and a group treated with the solvent used for preparation of the AgNPs. Hemagglutination assay indicated that AgNPs could significantly inhibit growth of the influenza virus in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells ( P <0.01 versus the influenza virus control). AgNPs significantly reduced cell apoptosis induced by H3N2 influenza virus at three different treatment pathways ( P <0.05 versus influenza virus control). H3N2 influenza viruses treated with AgNPs were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and found to interact with each other, resulting in destruction of morphologic viral structures in a time-dependent manner in a time range of 30 minutes to 2 hours. In addition, intranasal AgNP administration in mice significantly enhanced survival after infection with the H3N2 influenza virus. Mice treated with AgNPs showed lower lung viral titer levels and minor pathologic lesions in lung tissue, and had a marked survival benefit during secondary intranasal passage in vivo. These results provide evidence that AgNPs have beneficial effects in preventing H3N2 influenza virus infection both in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrate that AgNPs can be used as potential therapeutics for inhibiting outbreaks of influenza.

Toxic effects of silver nanoparticles in mammals – does a risk of neurotoxicity exist?

“…AgNPs have been found to be a potential weapon against a wide range of viruses. Due to the low likelihood of resistance, AgNPs may provide effective antiviral therapies against HIV-1 [68], hepatitis B virus [84], herpes simplex virus types 1 [9] and 2 [97] and influenza virus [143]. The mechanism of antiviral potential of AgNPs is still being investigated.…”

“…The mechanism of antiviral potential of AgNPs is still being investigated. It is thought that AgNPs interact with glycoprotein receptors [68], the viral envelope [143] and double-stranded DNA/RNA [84], thereby preventing the replication of viruses, or block the binding of viruses to the host cell.…”

Advanced in vitro systems for efficacy and toxicity testing in nanomedicine

“…The same approach to in vitro testing is likely to have similar significant human health implications (and very possibly commercially-expensive consequences) in the field of nano-medicine and nanosafety testing. In short, the same caveats of physiological relevance and predictive value are likely to apply in the field of nanotoxicology and nano-efficacy testing, with reports of consistency between in vivo and in vitro results from immortalised cell lines (48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57) being fundamentally compromised by crossspecies extrapolation unjustified by model biochemical divergence.…”

Inhibitory activity of selenium nanoparticles functionalized with oseltamivir on H1N1 influenza virus

“…15 Several antiviral drugs have been developed in the infection cycle. Existing antiviral drugs are amantadine and oseltamivir (OTV).…”

“…Cell-culture supernatants were harvested after 48 hours, and HA titer measured as previously described. 45 The NA activity of the influenza virus was determined by quantifying the intensity of fluorescence, as previously described.…”