Lignin-Based Mucus-Mimicking Antiviral Hydrogels with Enzyme Stability and Tunable Porosity

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c18519
• Publication Date: 2025-01-29T07:11:21Z
• Authors: Sanjam Chandna; Tatyana L. Povolo...; Chuanxiong Nie; Sophia Schwartz; Stefanie Wedepohl; Elisa Quaas; Kai Ludwig; Yulia Boyakova; Sumati Bhatia; Klas Meyer; Jana Falkenhagen; Rainer Haag; Stephan Block
• Keywords: antivirals; lignin functionalization; mucus-mimicking hydrogels; Chemie und zugeordnete Wissenschaften; tunable porosity; 540; enzyme stability

Mucus is a complex hydrogel that acts as defensive and protective barrier in various parts of the human body. The rise level viral infections has underscored importance advancing research into mucus-mimicking hydrogels for efficient design antiviral agents. Herein, we demonstrate gram-scale synthesis biocompatible, lignin-based virus-binding inhibitors reduce waste ensure long-term availability. are equipped with sulfate moieties, which known binding partners many viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 herpes viruses. In addition, cross-linking synthesized yielded mimicked native mucus concerning surface functionality rheology. degree sulfation exhibits very strong impact on mesh size distribution hydrogels, provides new means to fine-tune steric electrostatic contributions virus–hydrogel interaction. This feature strongly impacts sequestration capability demonstrated by infection inhibition assays involving simplex virus 1, influenza A bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). These measurements showed reduction plaque-forming units (HSV-1) colony-forming coli) more than 4 orders magnitude, indicating potent hydrogels.