Antiviral Properties of Polymeric Aziridine- and Biguanide-Modified Core–Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles

Polycationic superparamagnetic nanoparticles (∼150–250 nm) were evaluated as virucidal agents. The particles possess a core–shell structure, with cores consisting of magnetite clusters and shells of functional silica covalently bound to poly­(hexamethylene biguanide) (PHMBG), polyethyleneimine (PEI), or PEI terminated with aziridine moieties. Aziridine was conjugated to the PEI shell through cationic ring-opening polymerization. The nanometric core–shell particles functionalized with biguanide or aziridine moieties are able to bind and inactivate bacteriophage MS2, herpes simplex virus HSV-1, nonenveloped infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), and enveloped viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). The virus–particle complexes can be efficiently removed from the aqueous milieu by simple magnetocollection