Potent antiviral effect of silver nanoparticles on SARS-CoV-2

Sundararaj S. Jeremiah, Kei Miyakawa, Takeshi Morita, Yutaro Yamaoka, Akihide Ryo

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The pandemic of COVID-19 is spreading unchecked due to the lack of effective antiviral measures. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been studied to possess antiviral properties and are presumed to inhibit SARS-CoV-2. Due to the need for an effective agent against SARS-CoV-2, we evaluated the antiviral effect of AgNPs. We evaluated a plethora of AgNPs of different sizes and concentration and observed that particles of diameter around 10 nm were effective in inhibiting extracellular SARS-CoV-2 at concentrations ranging between 1 and 10 ppm while cytotoxic effect was observed at concentrations of 20 ppm and above. Luciferase-based pseudovirus entry assay revealed that AgNPs potently inhibited viral entry step via disrupting viral integrity. These results indicate that AgNPs are highly potent microbicides against SARS-CoV-2 but should be used with caution due to their cytotoxic effects and their potential to derange environmental ecosystems when improperly disposed.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)195-200
    Number of pages6
    JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
    Volume533
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 26 Nov 2020

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