NANODELIVERY OF BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIVIRAL AGENTS WITH NOVEL MECHANISMS AGAINST PANDEMIC INFECTIONS
Progetto The .project AntiviraNanotherapy aims at the development of a nanomedicine pipeline enabling the efficient delivery of novel broad- spectrum antiviral agents. The purpose of the project AntiviraNanotherapy is to achieve a proof-of-concept for early ,inhibition of viral infections by targeting virus-induced host metabolic alterations caused by the following viruses: Zika virus, Dengue virus, West Nile fever virus, and Chikungunya virus.
The NAAA (N-acylethanolamine acid amidase) inhibitor ARN726 is proposed as novel antiviral compound, acting through an indirect mechanism of action mediated by PPAR alpha receptor. A novel library of PPAR alpha agonists will be tested for their antiviral a‘ctivity against different virus families. A nanomedicine approach will be applied to the delivery of tested drugs, by utilizing lipid nanoparticles fully characterized for their physico- chemical and structural properties. Their antiviral efficacy will be evaluated in pre-clinical models in vitro and in vivo.