Polyethylene glycol-coated zinc oxide nanoparticle: an efficient nanoweapon to fight against herpes simplex virus type 1

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to determine the possible inhibitory effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated ZnO-NPs (ZnO-PEG-NPs) on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1).

Materials & methods: PEGylated ZnO-NPs were synthesized by the mechanical method. Antiviral activity was assessed by 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀) and real-time PCR assays. To confirm the antiviral activity of ZnO-NPs on expression of HSV-1 antigens, indirect immunofluorescence assay was also conducted.

Results: 200 μg/ml ZnO-PEG-NPs could result in 2.5 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ reduction in virus titer, with inhibition rate of approximately 92% in copy number of HSV-1 genomic DNA.

Conclusion: ZnO-PEG-NPs could be proposed as a new agent for efficient HSV-1 inhibition. Our results indicated that PEGylation is effective in reducing cytotoxicity and increasing antiviral activity of nanoparticles.

Keywords: HSV-1; PEG; ZnO; antiviral activity; herpes simplex virus; nanoparticle; polyethylene glycol; zinc oxide.