Diwan A.R., Tatake J.G., Barton R.W., Menon K.
Nanoviricides, Inc., US
Keywords: anti-influenza therapy, cellular receptor mimetic, targeted flexible nanomicelles
Nanoviricides® anti-influenza agents are designed to mimic a natural host cell receptor to which all influenza A viruses bind and infect host cells. A nanoviricide is composed of a flexible polymer backbone with virus-specific ligands attached. The attachment of multiple ligands to a single polymer chain coupled with the fact that multiple polymer chains make up a single micelle leads to a very high avidity for the nanomicelle binding to the virus. Binding of the influenza virus to the nanomicelle is believed to neutralize and engulf the virus, rendering it incapable of infection. Anti-influenza nanoviricides® were evaluated for efficacy and potency in vivo using a highly lethal mouse model and compared with Tamiflu® treatment. Tamiflu was administered orally twice daily at 20mg/kg while the anti-influenza nanoviricides were intravenous injections at 100mg/kg every 48 hrs. The animals treated with the best of the anti-influenza nanoviricides survived greater than twice as long (18.1 days) as opposed to the animals treated with Tamiflu (7.8 days). The increased survival of nanoviricides-treated animals was associated with a greater than 15-fold lung viral load reduction as compared to Tamiflu treamment. Thus, nanoviricides represent potential anti-influenza therapeutic agents with a novel mechanism of action.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 3, Nanotechnology 2011: Bio Sensors, Instruments, Medical, Environment and Energy
Published: June 13, 2011
Pages: 163 - 166
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Medical & Biotech
Topic: Biomaterials
ISBN: 978-1-4398-7138-6