Pathogen‐binding nanoparticles to inhibit host cell infection by heparan sulfate and sialic acid dependent viruses and protozoan parasites

• Published in: Smart medicine 2024-06, Vol.3 (2), p.e20230046-n/a
• Main Author: Najer, Adrian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG); metal nanoparticles; Mini Review; nanomedicines; parasite invasion; polymeric nanoparticles; sialic acid (SA); viral entry inhibitors
• ISSN: 2751-1871; 2751-1863; 2751-1871
• DOI: 10.1002/SMMD.20230046

Global health faces an immense burden from infectious diseases caused by viruses and intracellular protozoan parasites such as the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) and malaria, respectively. These pathogens propagate through the infection of human host cells. The first stage of this host cell infection mechanism is cell attachment, which typically involves interactions between the infectious agent and surface components on the host cell membranes, specifically heparan sulfate (HS) and/or sialic acid (SA). Hence, nanoparticles (NPs) which contain or mimic HS/SA that can directly bind to the pathogen surface and inhibit cell infection are emerging as potential candidates for an alternative anti‐infection therapeutic strategy. These NPs can be prepared from metals, soft matter (lipid, polymer, and dendrimer), DNA, and carbon‐based materials among others and can be designed to include aspects of multivalency, broad‐spectrum activity, biocidal mechanisms, and multifunctionality. This review provides an overview of such anti‐pathogen nanomedicines beyond drug delivery. Nanoscale inhibitors acting against viruses and obligate intracellular protozoan parasites are discussed. In the future, the availability of broadly applicable nanotherapeutics would allow early tackling of existing and upcoming viral diseases. Invasion inhibitory NPs could also provide urgently needed effective treatments for protozoan parasitic infections. Infections with viruses and protozoan parasites represent critical global health challenges. The search for effective broad‐spectrum applicable treatments for these diseases has sparked interest in developing nanotechnological therapeutic strategies. This mini‐review critically summarizes recent advances and future opportunities of nanoscale pathogen entry/invasion inhibitors, a specific class of anti‐infectious nanomedicines under development. (ToC schematic created with Servier Medical Art website CC‐BY).