mPEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of griffithsin-based system to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

HIV is a lethal disease which affects approximately 37.9 million people worldwide with (2018) leading to 770,000 deaths. Although less lethal, herpes is extremely common and, in the USA, roughly 25% of the population has genital herpes. Recently, researchers from University of Louisville used mPEG-PLGA (AK148) from PolyScitech (www.polyscitech.com) to generate drug-loaded fibers for protection against HIV and herpes infections. This research holds promise to provide a system which can prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Read more: Tyo, Kevin M., Amanda B. Lasnik, Longyun Zhang, Mohamed Mahmoud, Alfred B. Jenson, Joshua L. Fuqua, Kenneth E. Palmer, and Jill M. Steinbach-Rankins. "Sustained-release Griffithsin nanoparticle-fiber composites against HIV-1 and HSV-2 infections." Journal of Controlled Release (2020). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168365920300857

“Highlights: Multilayered nanoparticle (NP)-electrospun fiber (EF) composites provided sustained-release of Griffithsin (GRFT). GRFT NPs and NP-EFs demonstrated in vitro efficacy against HIV-1 infection. NP-EF composites prevented lethal HSV-2 infection in a murine model. NP-EFs and NPs demonstrated preliminary safety in vivo, inducing negligible cytokine expression and inflammatory response. Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The antiviral lectin, Griffithsin (GRFT), has been shown to be both safe and efficacious against HSV-2 and HIV-1 infections in vivo. The goal of this work was to develop a multilayered nanoparticle (NP)-electrospun fiber (EF) composite to provide sustained-release of GRFT, and to examine its safety and efficacy in a murine model of lethal HSV-2 infection. Composites were fabricated from polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers surrounding polyethylene oxide (PEO) fibers that incorporated methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (mPEG-PLGA) GRFT NPs. GRFT loading and release were determined via ELISA, showing that NP-EF composites achieved high GRFT loading, and provided sustained-release of GRFT for up to 90 d. The in vitro efficacy of GRFT NP-EFs was assessed using HIV-1 pseudovirus assays, demonstrating complete in vitro protection against HIV-1 infection. Additionally, sustained-release NP-EFs, administered 24 h prior to infection, prevented against a lethal dose of HSV-2 infection in a murine model. In parallel, histology and cytokine expression from murine reproductive tracts and vaginal lavages collected 24 and 72 h post-administration were similar to untreated mice, suggesting that NP-EF composites may be a promising and safe sustained-delivery platform to prevent HSV-2 infection. Future work will evaluate the ability to provide prolonged protection against multiple virus challenges, and different administration times with respect to infection.”

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