ANTI-INFECTION PEPTIDE LL37 SUSTAINED DELIVERY SYSTEM - A POTENTIAL NEW TREATMENT OF OCULAR INFECTIONS. REPORT2. ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF LL37 INCAPSULATED IN SILICA NANOPARTICLES

Purpose. To test anti-viral activity of anti-infective peptide (AIP) LL37 sustained release system (SRS) based on silica nanoparticles. Material and Methods. AIP LL37 (cathelicidin) was encapsulated in silica nanoparticles (SiNP) under magnetic stirring. For anti-viral activity testing, human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) culture was infected by type I herpes simplex virus (HSV). SiNP encapsulated LL37 or empty SiNP or free LL37 were added to the infected HCEC after that and were co-cultured for additional 24-72 h. Culture medium was collected to count virus titer using plaque formation assay. Results. SiNP encapsulated LL37 had significant anti-viral effect against HSV compared to control: virus titer in culture medium contained SiNP encapsulated LL37 was 91,2+49,7plaque forming units (PFU) per ml. in 24 h culturing and 44333,3+8891,9 PFU/ml in 72 h culturing. At the same time, virus titer in culture medium without SRS of AIP LL37 was 6716,7+3489,6 PFU/ml and 327500+36159,4PFU/ml in 24 h and 72 h culturing respectively (P = 0,024). Conclusion. For the first time it was shown in vitro activity of anti-infective peptide LL37sustained release system based on silica nanoparticles against the commonest ocular viral infection - herpes simplex virus. Key words: eye infection, LL37, An tagonists peptide system of constant drug delivery, herpes simplex virus.