Membrane Nanoparticles Derived from ACE2 Rich Cells Block SARS CoV 2 Infection
The ongoing COVID 19 pandemic worldwide necessitates the development of therapeutics against SARS CoV 2. ACE2 is the main receptor of SARS CoV 2 S1 and mediates viral entry into host cells. Herein, membrane nanoparticles (NPs) prepared from ACE2 rich cells were discovered to have potent capacity to block SARS CoV 2 infection. The membranes of human embryonic kidney 239T cells highly expressing ACE2 were applied to prepare NPs using an extrusion method. The nanomaterials, termed ACE2 NPs, contained 265.1 ng mg 1 ACE2 on the surface and acted as baits to trap S1 in a dose dependent manner, resulting in reduced recruitment of the viral ligand to HK 2 human renal tubular epithelial cells. Aside from affecting receptor recongnition, S1 translocated to the cytoplasm and induced apoptosis by reducing optic atrophy 1 expression and increasing cytochrome c release, which was also inhibited by ACE2 NPs. Further investigations revealed that ACE2 NPs efficiently suppressed SARS CoV 2 S pseudovirions entry into host cells and blocked viral infection in vitro and in vivo. This study characterizes easy to produce memrbane nanoantagonists of SARS CoV 2 that enrich the existing antiviral arsenal and provide possibilities for COVID 19 treatment.
ACS nano