Targeted Immuno-Antiretroviral to Promote Dual Protection against HIV: A Proof-of-Concept Study

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 11; p. 1942
• Main Authors: Mandal, Subhra, Sunagawa, Shawnalyn W, Prathipati, Pavan Kumar, Belshan, Michael, Shibata, Annemarie, Destache, Christopher J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06.06.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Affinity; AIDS; Antibodies; Antigens; Antiretroviral agents; Antiviral agents; Apoptosis; Binding; Blocking; CCR5 monoclonal antibody; CCR5 protein; CD4 antigen; Cell surface; Chemokine receptors; dolutegravir; functional HIV cure; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Immune system; Immunological memory; Infections; Latency; Lymphocytes T; Monoclonal antibodies; Monocytes; nanoformulation; Nanoparticles; Patients; Phenotypes; Polyvinyl alcohol; Population studies; Prophylaxis; targeting; Tenofovir; Vaccines; Viruses; St Louis Missouri; United States > US; CCR5 monoclonal antibody; functional HIV cure; nanoformulation; targeting; dolutegravir; tenofovir
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano12111942

The C-C motif chemokine receptor-5 (CCR5) expression on the T-cell surface is the prime barrier to HIV/AIDS eradication, as it promotes both active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection and latency; however, antiretrovirals (ARVs) suppress plasma viral loads to non-detectable levels. Keeping this in mind, we strategically designed a targeted ARVs-loaded nanoformulation that targets CCR5 expressing T-cells (e.g., CD4+ cells). Conceptually, CCR5-blocking and targeted ARV delivery would be a dual protection strategy to prevent HIV infection. For targeting CCR5+ T-cells, the nanoformulation was surface conjugated with anti-CCR5 monoclonal antibodies (CCR5 mAb) and loaded with dolutegravir+tenofovir alafenamide (D+T) ARVs to block HIV replication. The result demonstrated that the targeted-ARV nanoparticle's multimeric CCR5 binding property improved its antigen-binding affinity, prolonged receptor binding, and ARV intracellular retention. Further, nanoformulation demonstrated high binding affinity to CCR5 expressing CD4+ cells, monocytes, and other CCR5+ T-cells. Finally, the short-term pre-exposure prophylaxis study demonstrated that prolonged CCR5 blockage and ARV presence further induced a "protective immune phenotype" with a boosted T-helper (Th), temporary memory (TM), and effector (E) sub-population. The proof-of-concept study that the targeted-ARV nanoformulation dual-action mechanism could provide a multifactorial solution toward achieving HIV "functional cure."