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

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2020 Nov 26;533(1):195-200. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.09.018. Epub 2020 Sep 11.

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; Colloidal silver; SARS-CoV-2; Silver nanoparticles.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antiviral Agents / toxicity
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Metal Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / toxicity
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Pandemics
  • Particle Size
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Silver / administration & dosage*
  • Silver / toxicity
  • Vero Cells
  • Virus Internalization / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Silver