Gn-modified biomimetic nanospheres for targeted siRNA delivery and their in vitro activity against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) has a high mortality rate, particularly in regions such as South Korea. Although vaccines and antiviral drugs are available, their effectiveness is limited, and they often have significant side effects. This study presents a novel therapeutic strategy aimed at effectively inhibiting SFTSV gene expression through the use of biomimetic nanospheres designed for siRNA delivery. In this study, we developed a biomimetic nanosphere for siRNA delivery by combining Gn-modified Vero cell membrane with siRNA-cationic peptide nanocomplexes. The biomimetic nanospheres exhibited an average size of ∼175 nm, a ζ-potential of +20 mV, and an IC50 of 18.44 nM, demonstrating high antiviral efficacy against SFTSV.