tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Genet Eng Biotechnol
. 2023 Oct 6;21(1):93.
doi: 10.1186/s43141-023-00548-z. Porphyrin-derived carbon dots for an enhanced antiviral activity targeting the CTD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid
Azzania Fibriani[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Audrey Angelina Putri Taharuddin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nicholas Yamahoki[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Rebecca Stephanie[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jessica Laurelia[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Dian Fitria Agustiyanti[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Popi Hadi Wisnuwardhani[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marissa Angelina[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Yana Rubiyana[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ratih Asmana Ningrum[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Andri Wardiana[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Desriani Desriani[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ferry Iskandar[SUP] 6 7 8 [/SUP], Fitri Aulia Permatasari[SUP] 7 8 9 [/SUP], Ernawati Arifin Giri-Rachman[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Since effective antiviral drugs for COVID-19 are still limited in number, the exploration of compounds that have antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 is in high demand. Porphyrin is potentially developed as a COVID-19 antiviral drug. However, its low solubility in water restricts its clinical application. Reconstruction of porphyrin into carbon dots is expected to possess better solubility and bioavailability as well as lower biotoxicity.
Methods and results: In this study, we investigated the antiviral activity of porphyrin and porphyrin-derived carbon dots against SARS-CoV-2. Through the in silico analysis and assessment using a novel drug screening platform, namely dimer-based screening system, we demonstrated the capability of the antivirus candidates in inhibiting the dimerization of the C-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid. It was shown that porphyrin-derived carbon dots possessed lower cytotoxicity on Vero E6 cells than porphyrin. Furthermore, we also assessed their antiviral activity on the SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero E6 cells. The transformation of porphyrin into carbon dots substantially augmented its performance in disrupting SARS-CoV-2 propagation in vitro.
Conclusions: Therefore, this study comprehensively demonstrated the potential of porphyrin-derived carbon dots to be developed further as a promisingly safe and effective COVID-19 antiviral drug.
Keywords: Antivirus; COVID-19; Carbon dots; Coronavirus; Cytotoxicity; Dimer-based screening system; Nucleocapsid; Phytochemicals; Porphyrin; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2023 Oct 6;21(1):93.
doi: 10.1186/s43141-023-00548-z. Porphyrin-derived carbon dots for an enhanced antiviral activity targeting the CTD of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid
Azzania Fibriani[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Audrey Angelina Putri Taharuddin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nicholas Yamahoki[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Rebecca Stephanie[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Jessica Laurelia[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Dian Fitria Agustiyanti[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Popi Hadi Wisnuwardhani[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marissa Angelina[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Yana Rubiyana[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ratih Asmana Ningrum[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Andri Wardiana[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Desriani Desriani[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ferry Iskandar[SUP] 6 7 8 [/SUP], Fitri Aulia Permatasari[SUP] 7 8 9 [/SUP], Ernawati Arifin Giri-Rachman[SUP] 3 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37801271
- DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00548-z
Background: Since effective antiviral drugs for COVID-19 are still limited in number, the exploration of compounds that have antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 is in high demand. Porphyrin is potentially developed as a COVID-19 antiviral drug. However, its low solubility in water restricts its clinical application. Reconstruction of porphyrin into carbon dots is expected to possess better solubility and bioavailability as well as lower biotoxicity.
Methods and results: In this study, we investigated the antiviral activity of porphyrin and porphyrin-derived carbon dots against SARS-CoV-2. Through the in silico analysis and assessment using a novel drug screening platform, namely dimer-based screening system, we demonstrated the capability of the antivirus candidates in inhibiting the dimerization of the C-terminal domain of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid. It was shown that porphyrin-derived carbon dots possessed lower cytotoxicity on Vero E6 cells than porphyrin. Furthermore, we also assessed their antiviral activity on the SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero E6 cells. The transformation of porphyrin into carbon dots substantially augmented its performance in disrupting SARS-CoV-2 propagation in vitro.
Conclusions: Therefore, this study comprehensively demonstrated the potential of porphyrin-derived carbon dots to be developed further as a promisingly safe and effective COVID-19 antiviral drug.
Keywords: Antivirus; COVID-19; Carbon dots; Coronavirus; Cytotoxicity; Dimer-based screening system; Nucleocapsid; Phytochemicals; Porphyrin; SARS-CoV-2.