Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread
The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has required a variety of non-medical interventions to limit the transmission of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One such option is over-the-counter nasal sprays that aim to block virus entry and t...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/12/2345 |
| _version_ | 1827669090483830784 |
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| author | Kirsten Bentley Richard J. Stanton |
| author_facet | Kirsten Bentley Richard J. Stanton |
| author_sort | Kirsten Bentley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has required a variety of non-medical interventions to limit the transmission of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One such option is over-the-counter nasal sprays that aim to block virus entry and transmission within the nasal cavity. In this study, we assessed the ability of three hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based powder nasal sprays, produced by Nasaleze, to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and release in vitro. Upon application, the HPMC powder forms a gel-like matrix within the nasal cavity—a process we recapitulated in cell culture. We found that virus release from cells previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 was inhibited by the gel matrix product in a dose-dependent manner, with virus levels reduced by >99.99% over a 72 h period at a dose of 6.4 mg/3.5 cm<sup>2</sup>. We also show that the pre-treatment of cells with product inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection, independent of the virus variant. The primary mechanism of action appears to be via the formation of a physical, passive barrier. However, the addition of wild garlic provided additional direct antiviral properties in some formulations. We conclude that HPMC-based nasal sprays may offer an additional component to strategies to limit the spread of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:55:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec7c33fbe655451cbcaab9544ac87bf3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:55:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec7c33fbe655451cbcaab9544ac87bf32023-11-23T10:56:33ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152021-11-011312234510.3390/v13122345Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and SpreadKirsten Bentley0Richard J. Stanton1Infection & Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKInfection & Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UKThe ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has required a variety of non-medical interventions to limit the transmission of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One such option is over-the-counter nasal sprays that aim to block virus entry and transmission within the nasal cavity. In this study, we assessed the ability of three hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based powder nasal sprays, produced by Nasaleze, to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and release in vitro. Upon application, the HPMC powder forms a gel-like matrix within the nasal cavity—a process we recapitulated in cell culture. We found that virus release from cells previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 was inhibited by the gel matrix product in a dose-dependent manner, with virus levels reduced by >99.99% over a 72 h period at a dose of 6.4 mg/3.5 cm<sup>2</sup>. We also show that the pre-treatment of cells with product inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection, independent of the virus variant. The primary mechanism of action appears to be via the formation of a physical, passive barrier. However, the addition of wild garlic provided additional direct antiviral properties in some formulations. We conclude that HPMC-based nasal sprays may offer an additional component to strategies to limit the spread of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/12/2345SARS-CoV-2nasal sprayhydroxypropyl methylcellulose |
| spellingShingle | Kirsten Bentley Richard J. Stanton Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread Viruses SARS-CoV-2 nasal spray hydroxypropyl methylcellulose |
| title | Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread |
| title_full | Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread |
| title_fullStr | Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread |
| title_short | Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Nasal Sprays Effectively Inhibit In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Spread |
| title_sort | hydroxypropyl methylcellulose based nasal sprays effectively inhibit in vitro sars cov 2 infection and spread |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 nasal spray hydroxypropyl methylcellulose |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/12/2345 |
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