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Inhibition of Influenza Virus Infection by Multivalent Sialic‐Acid‐Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Papp Ilona,
Sieben Christian,
Ludwig Kai,
Roskamp Meike,
Böttcher Christoph,
Schlecht Sabine,
Herrmann Andreas,
Haag Rainer
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201001349
Subject(s) - hemagglutinin (influenza) , sialic acid , colloidal gold , virus , dendrimer , chemistry , nanoparticle , influenza a virus , biochemistry , biophysics , virology , nanotechnology , biology , materials science
An efficient synthesis of sialic‐acid‐terminated glycerol dendron to chemically functionalize 2 nm and 14 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is described. These nanoparticles are highly stable and show high activity towards the inhibition of influenza virus infection. As the binding of the viral fusion protein hemagglutinin to the host cell surface is mediated by sialic acid receptors, a multivalent interaction with sialic‐acid‐functionalized AuNPs is expected to competitively inhibit viral infection. Electron microscopy techniques and biochemical analysis show a high binding affinity of the 14 nm AuNPs to hemagglutinin on the virus surface and, less efficiently, to isolated hemagglutinin. The functionalized AuNPs are nontoxic to the cells under the conditions studied. This approach allows a new type of molecular‐imaging activity‐correlation and is of particular relevance for further application in alternative antiviral therapy.