Programmable Antiviral Platform Based on DNA Nanotechnology – The VIRUS TRAP

Programmable Antiviral Platform Based on DNA Nanotechnology – The VIRUS TRAP

Abstract
At present, there are over 200 known viral vector borne human diseases, of which only nine are treatable with current antiviral drugs. Every year, viral diseases cause immense human suffering and huge economic burden to societies. Broad-spectrum antiviral platforms that can decrease or inhibit viral infection would alleviate many threats to global public health and to economies, but broadly applicable antiviral platform technologies do not yet exist. Human society is ill prepared to respond to emerging viral pandemics.
To address this important challenge, we have developed a programmable approach to antiviral therapy, termed virus trap. The virus trap concept entails engulfing viral pathogens within de novo designed macromolecular shells that are administered to patients. Encapsulating entire viral pathogens requires building even larger massive macromolecular shells, which poses a difficult nanoengineering challenge. Through more than a decade of intense research centered on a fabrication technique known as DNA origami, we have recently reached the technological readiness to put our concept into practice. We have developed a programmable icosahedral canvas for the self-assembly of virus-sized icosahedral shells that are large enough to fit entire viruses. The interior of the shells is coated with virus binding molecules. Virus particles can enter the shells through apertures by diffusion and become irreversibly trapped inside the shells. The encapsulation prevents the viruses mechanically from interacting with host cells, which decreases viral load in circulation. We have succeeded in trapping adeno, adeno-associated, chikungunya, dengue, influenza, human papilloma, noro, polio, rubella, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses and virus-like particles, in one and the same functionalized shell system without the need for virus-type-specific binders. Virus neutralization experiments that we have already carried out with human cell cultures and distinct viruses demonstrated the striking potential of the virus trap as an antiviral drug.
Our mission at capsitec is to establish the virus trap as a programmable antiviral drug and bring it to doctor’s offices and clinicians around the world.