Gold nanoparticles capped with sulfate-ended ligands as anti-HIV agents

Gold nanoparticles coated with multiple copies of an amphiphilic sulfate-ended ligand are able to bind the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120 as measured by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and inhibit in vitro the HIV infection of T-cells at nanomolar concentrations. A 50% density of sulfated ligands on ∼2 nm nanoparticles (the other ligands being inert glucose derivatives) is enough to achieve high anti-HIV activities. This result opens up the possibility of tailoring both sulfated ligands and other anti-HIV molecules on the same gold cluster, thus contributing to the development of non-cocktail based multifunctional anti-HIV systems.

Graphical abstractA golden opportunity against HIV. Gold nanoparticles coated with multiple copies of an amphiphilic sulphate-ended ligand inhibit in vitro the HIV infection of T-cells at nanomolar concentrations.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide