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

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 533; no. 1; pp. 195 - 200
• Main Authors: Jeremiah, Sundararaj S., Miyakawa, Kei, Morita, Takeshi, Yamaoka, Yutaro, Ryo, Akihide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 26.11.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - toxicity; antiviral properties; Betacoronavirus - drug effects; Betacoronavirus - physiology; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chlorocebus aethiops; Colloidal silver; Coronavirus Infections - drug therapy; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - virology; COVID-19; COVID-19 infection; cytotoxicity; disinfectants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Metal Nanoparticles - administration & dosage; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Metal Nanoparticles - ultrastructure; nanosilver; pandemic; Pandemics; Particle Size; Pneumonia, Viral - drug therapy; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Silver - administration & dosage; Silver - toxicity; Silver nanoparticles; Vero Cells; Virus Internalization - drug effects; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Colloidal silver; Silver nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.09.018

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. •Silver nanoparticles inhibit extracellular SARS-CoV-2.•2–15 nm size particles showed robust inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.•SARS-CoV-2 was potently inhibited at concentrations above 1 ppm.•Naked Silver nanoparticles exhibited cytotoxicity from 20 ppm onwards.