Current double and triple treatments with direct acting antivirals (DAAs) were
recently reported to cause several side effects and thereby effective, less toxic
antiviral agents are still needed. Accordingly, this study aimed at investigating the
role of some natural and synthetic antivirals; curcumin, chitosan nanoparticles
(CSNPs) and chitosan encapsulating curcumin nanocomposite on HCV-G4
replication in Huh7.5 cells. Viral Replication was quantified in HCV/G4 infected
Huh7.5 cells either treated or not with curcumin, chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs)
and chitosan encapsulating curcumin nanocomposite using quantitative real time
PCR assay. Nanocomposite (chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating curcumin) was
successfully prepared and controlled to the size of 15 nm and charges of 25 mV,
characterized by TEM, XRD, FTIR. Curcumin was encapsulated at concentration of
42mg/gm of chitosan nanoparticles. Chitosan nanoparticles at concentration of
100μg/mL showed almost 100% reduction of viral replication whereas the non-toxic
dose of curcumin (13 μm) showed 50% reduction in the viral initial titer as detected
by real-time PCR assay. Combining both agents in the nanocomposite led to a higher
reduction in viral replication. Nanocomposite showed a significant reduction in viral
replication when compared to curcumin and chitosan alone which suggests the
potential role of nanocomposite as a novel, safe and effective antiviral agent.
Keywords: curcumin, chitosan, nanocomposite, HCV – 4.