Antiviral activity of algae biosynthesized silver and gold nanoparticles against Herps Simplex (HSV-1) virus in vitro using cell-line culture technique

ABSTRACT

As therapeutic antiviral agents, biological nanoparticles can fight the drug-resistant types of viruses helping the antiviral drug development. In this study, two blue-green algal strains; Oscillatoria sp. and Spirulina platensis were used, mediated by green Ag₂O|AgO-NPs and Au-NPs, respectively. For NPs characterization, the UV/Vis spectroscopy were used where their formation and crystallinity were proven with λ_max values for silver and gold NPs of 432 and 552 nm, respectively. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) X-ray diffraction showed a spherical-shaped Ag₂O|AgO-NPs (size; 14.42 to 48.97) while Au-NPs appeared with octahedral, pentagonal and triangular structures (size; 15.60–77.13 nm). The reducing, capping, and stabilization activities of algal polysaccharides and proteins were indicated via FTIR spectroscopy. Both Ag₂O|AgO-NPs and Au-NPs were investigated against Herpes Simplex virus (HSV-1) that has been indicated by its reduction activity of cytopathic effect (CPE). Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero cells and measured by MTT assay. Results showed a 90% reduction in CPE of HSV-1 applying Ag₂O|AgO-NPs, and Au-NPs at 31.25 μL., with a high reduction rate (49.23%) with Ag₂O|AgO-NPs than that of Au-NPs (42.75%). Current results proved the efficiency of green nanotechnology application with both Ag₂O|AgO-NPs, and Au-NPs as reducing and inhibitory agents for the HSV-1 replication.

KEYWORDS:

• Green nanotechnology
• cyanobacteria
• silver oxide nanoparticles
• gold nanoparticles
• antiviral

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Elham M. Ali, Professor of Aquatic Ecology & Algae Suez University, Egypt, for critical reading and editing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest