Issue 16, 2018

Efficient antiviral co-delivery using polymersomes by controlling the surface density of cell-targeting groups for influenza A virus treatment

Abstract

Influenza A virus (IAV), which causes one of the most contagious diseases, is a global health concern and is responsible for seasonal epidemics and pandemics. Despite notable efforts towards developing antiviral agents and drugs, a vast majority of these, especially intracellular drugs, have shown limited efficacy due to non-specificity and low viability under physiological or endosomal conditions. Polymersomes consist of phenylboronic acid (PBA) pendant group polymers (PBASomes) and can act as drug carriers; they have sialic acid-targeting properties and can gain greater access to the intracellular space for the transport of antivirals within the host cell. Amphiphilic copolymers comprising methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(phenylalanine) (mPEG-b-pPhe) formed polymersomes, which encapsulated mir-323a in the core and favipiravir in the exterior layer as hydrophilic and hydrophobic antivirals, respectively. For maximizing the cellular uptake of PBASomes via receptor-mediated endocytosis, the surface density of PBA was controlled with PBA-functionalized copolymers (PBA-PEG-pPhe). Combination therapy by employing polymersomes with PBA functional groups induced a synergistic effect against H1N1 virus infection in vitro. We believe that antiviral co-delivery using these polymersomes would provide better opportunities to improve transfection of therapeutic substances for IAV treatment.

Graphical abstract: Efficient antiviral co-delivery using polymersomes by controlling the surface density of cell-targeting groups for influenza A virus treatment

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Jan 2018
Accepted
19 Mar 2018
First published
19 Mar 2018

Polym. Chem., 2018,9, 2116-2123

Efficient antiviral co-delivery using polymersomes by controlling the surface density of cell-targeting groups for influenza A virus treatment

H. Chun, M. Yeom, H. Kim, J. Lim, W. Na, G. Park, C. Park, A. Kang, D. Yun, J. Kim, D. Song and S. Haam, Polym. Chem., 2018, 9, 2116 DOI: 10.1039/C8PY00116B

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