ViruClear: Molecularly designed biomimetic nanosponges for prevention and treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in COVID‐19 patients

Esmaeli‐Azad, Babak; Federico, Isabella; Rojas, Fernando; Zapf, Jim

The current COVID‐19 pandemic infectious disease agent SARS‐CoV‐2, like its’ cousin SARS‐CoV, uses a variety of entry receptors including angiotensin converting enzyme‑2 (ACE2), L‐SIGN (CD209L), and DC‐SIGN and others. The interaction between SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein and host cell proteins is the first and decisive step in establishing a COVID‐19 infection. This fact inspired us to create ViruClear, a molecularly designed biomimetic proteolipid bilayer decoy receptor nanosponge (100 nm nanospheres) containing an optimal combination of receptors and factors used by SARS‐CoV‐2 to bind host cells. Antiviral medicine (and most vaccines) often target a single viral target and may be rendered ineffective as the virus accumulates mutations and escapes treatments. By contrast, ViruClear nanosponges display as “decoys” the same set of receptors and factors that the SARS‐CoV‐2 depend on for cellular entry and infection. As such, the ViruClear platform is agnostic to viral mutations and potentially viral variant species, as long as the entry receptors overlap with those of SARS‐CoV‐2. Our preliminary data validate that the ViruClear decoy can multivalently trap viral particles and neutralize SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in animal and human cells. ViruClear is a novel “game changing” decoy receptor nanosponge optimized for multivalent capture of SARS‐CoV‐2 in the body (IV injection) or as a preventive measure in nebulized formats (e.g., molecular PPE). Its preclinical and clinical translation will lead paradigm shifts in countermeasures against SARS‐CoV‐2 and other viruses.