Lipid Membrane Interface Viewpoint: From Viral Entry to Antiviral and Vaccine Development

Soohyun Park, Nam Joon Cho*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Membrane-enveloped viruses are responsible for most viral pandemics in history, and more effort is needed to advance broadly applicable countermeasures to mitigate the impact of future outbreaks. In this Perspective, we discuss how biosensing techniques associated with lipid model membrane platforms are contributing to improving our mechanistic knowledge of membrane fusion and destabilization that is closely linked to viral entry as well as vaccine and antiviral drug development. A key benefit of these platforms is the simplicity of interpreting the results which can be complemented by other techniques to decipher more complicated biological observations and evaluate the biophysical functionalities that can be correlated to biological activities. Then, we introduce exciting application examples of membrane-targeting antivirals that have been refined over time and will continue to improve based on biophysical insights. Two ways to abrogate the function of viral membranes are introduced here: (1) selective disruption of the viral membrane structure and (2) alteration of the membrane component. While both methods are suitable for broadly useful antivirals, the latter also has the potential to produce an inactivated vaccine. Collectively, we emphasize how biosensing tools based on membrane interfacial science can provide valuable information that could be translated into biomedicines and improve their selectivity and performance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalLangmuir
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 10 2023
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Chemical Society.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Spectroscopy
  • Electrochemistry

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