siRNA-functionalized ultrasmall gold nanoparticles for the antiviral treatment of ocular Herpes Simplex Virus infections

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Matthias Epple; Professor Dr. Arnd Heiligenhaus; Professor Dr. Adalbert Krawczyk, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Virology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 534126322

Human Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections belong to the most frequently occurring virus-associated diseases worldwide. The ability of the virus to successfully avoid clearance by the immune system by spreading directly from cell to cell and establishing latency leads to lifelong infection. Recurrent infections of the cornea may lead to the development of Herpetic Stromal Keratitis, a leading cause for infectious blindness in industrialized countries. Antiviral drugs are available, but their efficacy is limited due to increasing rates of drug resistance. Clearly, a ready to use formulation for topical application would be of great benefit for the patients suffering from Herpetic Stromal Keratitis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to generate an effective formulation, which can be topically applied to the HSV-infected cornea. siRNA-functionalized ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (2 nm) will be generated for topical treatment of HSV-infections of the cornea to prevent viral proliferation and also inflammation. This occurs by local downregulation of protein synthesis via gene silencing. The experimental data from the planned animal studies are of prime interest in the context of the development of novel therapeutic approaches for HSV infections of the cornea. Moreover, such formulations may further be developed for the treatment of mucosal infections of the oral or genital tract.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants