1 research outputs found
Targeting and Enrichment of Viral Pathogen by Cell Membrane Cloaked Magnetic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Detection
Attachment
to cellular surfaces is a major attribute among infectious pathogens
for initiating disease pathogenesis. In viral infections, viruses
exploit receptor–ligand interactions to latch onto cellular
exterior prior to subsequent entry and invasion. In light of the selective
binding affinity between viral pathogens and cells, nanoparticles
cloaked in cellular membranes are herein employed for virus targeting.
Using the influenza virus as a model, erythrocyte membrane cloaked
nanoparticles are prepared and modified with magnetic functionalities
(RBC-mNP) for virus targeting and isolation. To maximize targeting
and isolation efficiency, density gradient centrifugation and nanoparticle
tracking analysis were applied to minimize the presence of uncoated
particles and membrane vesicles. The resulting nanoparticles possess
a distinctive membrane corona, a sialylated surface, and form colloidally
stable clusters with influenza viruses. Magnetic functionality is
bestowed to the nanoparticles through encapsulation of superparamagnetic
iron-oxide particles, which enable influenza virus enrichment via
magnetic extraction. Viral samples enriched by the RBC-mNPs result
in significantly enhanced virus detection by multiple virus quantification
methods, including qRT-PCR, immunnochromatographic strip test, and
cell-based titering assays. The demonstration of pathogen targeting
and isolation by RBC-mNPs highlights a biologically inspired approach
toward improved treatment and diagnosis against infectious disease
threats. The work also sheds light on the efficient membrane cloaking
mechanism that bestows nanoparticles with cell mimicking functionalities