Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold/layered double
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Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold/layered double
Nano Research Nano Res DOI 10.1007/s12274-015-0851-6 Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold/layered double hydroxides with highly efficient antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus Gabriela Carja1 (), Elena Florentina Grosu1, Catalina Petrarean2, and Norica Nichita2 Nano Res., Just Accepted Manuscript • DOI 10.1007/s12274-015-0851-6 http://www.thenanoresearch.com on July 4, 2015 © Tsinghua University Press 2015 Just Accepted This is a “Just Accepted” manuscript, which has been examined by the peer-review process and has been accepted for publication. A “Just Accepted” manuscript is published online shortly after its acceptance, which is prior to technical editing and formatting and author proofing. Tsinghua University Press (TUP) provides “Just Accepted” as an optional and free service which allows authors to make their results available to the research community as soon as possible after acceptance. After a manuscript has been technically edited and formatted, it will be removed from the “Just Accepted” Web site and published as an ASAP article. Please note that technical editing may introduce minor changes to the manuscript text and/or graphics which may affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. In no event shall TUP be held responsible for errors or consequences arising from the use of any information contained in these “Just Accepted” manuscripts. To cite this manuscript please use its Digital Object Identifier (DOI®), which is identical for all formats of publication. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS (TOC) The highly efficient antiviral effect and good cytocompatibility of the self-assemblies of nanoparticles of gold/layered double hydroxides are demonstrated for the first time, revealing the high potential of these nanocomposites to be tailored as novel bioactive therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B. Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold/layered double hydroxides with highly efficient antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus Gabriela Carja1*, Elena Florentina Grosu1, Catalina Petrarean2 and Norica Nichita 1 Departament of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Technical University “Gh. Asachi” of Iasi, Bd. Mangeron No. 71, Iasi 700554, Romania 2 Department of Viral Glycoproteins, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Splaiul Independentei 296, Bucharest 060031 Nano Research DOI (automatically inserted by the publisher) 2 Nano Res. Research Article Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold/layered double hydroxides with highly efficient antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus Gabriela Carja1 (), Elena Florentina Grosu1, Catalina Petrarean2 and Norica Nichita2 Received: day month year ABSTRACT Revised: day month year The design of complex nanocomposites engineered to interact with cells and to Accepted: day month year specifically act against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a challenging approach in the (automatically inserted by the publisher) © Tsinghua University Press conditions that the current therapies against HBV infections have limited efficacy and serious side effects. Herein, the antiviral effect of the self-assemblies of plasmonic gold and layered double hydroxides and Springer-Verlag Berlin (AuNPs/LDHs) is demonstrated, for the first time, using HBV as a model virus Heidelberg 2014 and the hepatoma-derived HepG2.2.215 cells supporting viral replication, assembly and secretion of infectious virions and subviral particles. KEYWORDS AuNPs/LDHs were obtained by a simple, cost-effective procedure in plasmonic gold, which small AuNPs (~ 3.5 nm) were directly obtained and organized on the layered double hydroxides; LDH, surface of larger nanoparticles (~ 150 nm) of LDHs by exploiting the antiviral effect, “structural memory” in the aqueous solution of Au(O 2 CCH3 )3. The HBV, hepatitis, cytotoxicity capability of MgLDH, ZnLDH and MgFeLDH to manifest their self-assembly approach of AuNPs and LDHs was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and UV-Vis analysis (UV-Vis). All AuNPs/LDHs reduced the amount of viral and subviral particles released from treated cells by up to 80% and exhibited good cytocompatibility. AuNPs/MgFeLDH showed the highest antiviral HBV response with more than 90% inhibition of HBV secretion for the whole concentration range. Preliminary investigations on the mechanism of HBV inhibition reveals that in the presence of AuNPs/LDHs the HBV particles are sequestered within treated cells. With these antiviral properties and low cytotoxicity plasmonic gold/LDHs nanocomposites hold great potential to be tailored as novel efficient | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp 3 Nano Res. therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B. 1 platforms in anticancer therapies [8, 9]. Plasmonic Introduction NPs show specific tunable photo-responsive Hepatitis B is a major health problem worldwide behaviour upon illumination (e.g. surface plasmon that is associated with as many as 1 milion death resonance and electron storage/charging effects) per year due to the development of hepatocellular and extremely low quantum yield while the carcinoma, cirrosis and other complications [1]. absorbed photon energy might be converted into Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). heat with high efficiency [10, 11 ]. To date it is still HBV is a member of the Hepadanviridae family - of challenging to join the functionalities of the enveloped viruses with a DNA genome and is an plasmonic important human pathogen, currently affecting nanocomposites in order to establish non-toxic and over two billion people worldwide [1]. The viral constructive interactions within the sophisticated DNA genome is protected by a nucleocapsid functions of the biological systems [12, 13]. It is surrounded by the small (S), medium (M) and large expected that coupling the plasmonic NPs and (L) surface proteins which are able to self-assemble nanostructured into empty, non-infectious subviral particles (SVP), cause a synergistic effect in their therapeutic secreted in vast excess over the virions, both in responses and achieved improved bioactivity and infected patients and in vitro [2]. Significant biospecificity [14]. One important aspect to be prophylaxis against HBV infection is ensured considered when NPs act on biological systems is through vaccination; however, treatment of chronic their cytotoxicity; this defines the NPs ability to patients is problematic. Current therapies, relying adversely affect the normal physiology of the cells, on replication inhibitors and immune response as well as, to directly alter the structure of the stimulators have limited efficacy and serious side normal cells [15]. Multiple studies have revealed effects during the course of administration [3]. As a that NPs aggregation process, their texture, size and consequence, the number of chronically infected stability are particularly important factors that can patients has been alarmingly increasing over the induce cytotoxicity [16]. Recent advances in NPs last decades, urging the development of more synthesis provide new tools to develop specific efficient antiviral agents [4]. Due to the demand for fabrication procedures in which the nano-texture novel targets and mechanisms to eradicate HBV, the might be controlled and nano-dimensions are design of bioactive nanocomposites engineered preserved by limiting aggregation processes of NPs to interact with cells and to show efficient [17]. Other aspects still remain key-points in antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus (HBV) establishing non-toxic effects of NPs, one of the is a challenging approach [5, 6]. Recent research most important being the toxicity of the organic has demonstrated that AgNPs exhibit promising surfactants that are used as structure-directing cytoprotective activities towards HIV - infected agents during NPs synthesis. [12]. For example, T-cells and can inhibit in vitro production of HBV, AuNPs are most often synthesized by using reducing the amount of extracellular virions [7] cetyltrimethylammonium while AuNPs were found particularly attractive cationic surfactant that tightly binds to AuNPs. It NPs in complex biocompatible self-assembled supports bromide might (CTAB), a Address correspondence to [email protected] www.theNanoResearch.com∣www.Springer.com/journal/12274 | Nano Research 4 Nano Res. has been shown that during NPs-cell interactions through clathrin-mediated CTAB desorbs from AuNPs surface and induces enhanced cytotoxic effects and cells death [18, 19]. Another manifesting toxic effects [30]. permeability and endocytosis, with retention without important aspect that might directly influence NPs interactions with biological specimens is the use of the stabilizing agents to prevent nano-units aggregation and to conserve their nano-features. Such as AuNPs used for biological applications might have coatings of the capping agents such as: citric acid, polysaccharides, surfactants, proteins or polymers [20]. The organic additives involved in fabrication, stabilization and coatings of NPs can strongly influence their direct interactions with cellular and intracellular components resulting in cytotoxic responses [21]. This motivates the needs Figure 1 Illustration of synthesis process of AuNPs/LDHs for establishing "greener procedures" to obtain self-assemblies. stable, non-toxic and bioactive nanostructures. In order to address these issues we have recently The established a simple experimental procedure in LDHsmatrices and the plasmonic NPs might be an which small NPs might be directly obtained and excellent motivation for testing cytotoxicity and stabilized on the LDHs matrices without involving antiviral effect of their self-assembly. Herein, we any organic additives as structure-directing agents report for the first time the antiviral properties of and/or stabilizing agents [22-24]. It uses the AuNPs/LDHs self-assemblies using HBV as a virus capability of NPs/LDHs model and the hepatoma-derived HepG2.2.215 cells self-assemblies while the freshly calcined LDHs supporting viral replication, assembly and secretion recover their original layered structure in the of infectious virions and SVP. Three specific aqueous solutions of metal salts Mey+Yx- by compositions of the LDH clays were considered in manifesting its “structural memory effect” [25, 26]. this study, denoted as MgLDH, ZnLDH and More MgFeLDH and both the cytotoxicity profiles and the precisely, LDHs in the to form active environment joined bioactive migration of Y from the salt aqueous solution to self-assemblies were determined using quantitative the clay inter-layers the LDH has also the capability assays. to take up the Me cations, from the aqueous significantly antiviral effect reducing the amount of solution of Me Y and stabilize them on its surface viral and subviral particles (SVPs) released from as MeNPs and/or MexOyNPs [27]. This is schematic treated cells by up to 80%, while no cellular toxicity illustrated in Fig. 1. Toxicity studies that addressed was observed. y+ x- LDHs clays have shown negligible cytotoxic effects during LDHs-cells interactions while the influence of LDHs nanoparticles on cells viability and We found that of the the y+ activity of formed ,during the reconstruction process, by the x- antiviral functionalities AuNPs/LDHs AuNPs/LDHs have 2 Experimental 2.1 Preparation of the LDHs proliferation was negligible [28, 29]. Moreover, it was demonstrated that LDH large nanoparticles (50 Three different compositions of the LDHs were to 200 nm) were selectively internalized into cells prepared by a co-precipitation method similar to | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp 5 Nano Res. that described by Reichle [31]. MgLDH containing voltage of 200 kV. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Mg and Al (Mg /Al =2/1) as cations of the LDHs (XPS) spectra were recorded using a Perkin-Elmer layers was prepared by the slow addition of an Model 5500-MT spectrometer equipped with Mg aqueous and Kα radiation (1253.6 eV), operating at 15 kV and 20 Al(NO3)3.9H2O, 1M to a Na2CO3 (0.5 10 M) solution mA; the binding energies (BE) were corrected by under stirring, at 45°C. The pH value was kept referencing the C1s peak to 284.8 eV. ICP analysis constant at 9.5 by adding suitable amounts of 0.1 M was also used to determine the gold content of the NaOH aqueous solution. ZnLDH with Zn2+ and Al3+ samples. Structural characteristics, crystallinity and in the LDH layers, (Zn2+/Al3+=2/1) was obtained by purity adding of diffraction (XRD) using a Shimadzu XRD 6100 Zn(NO ) 6H2O and Al(NO3)3.9H2O, 1M, to an diffractometer with monochromatic light (λ=0.1541 aqueous solution of NaOH/Na2CO3 in such a way nm), operating at 40 kV and 30 mA over a 2θ range that the final pH remained at a value of 9. For from 4 to 70°. UV-Vis absorption spectra were MgFeLDH Mg , Fe , Al recorded on a Jasco V550 spectrophotometer with 2+ 3+ 2+ 3+ solution of Mg(NO3)2.6H2O . slowly an aqueous -2 solution 3 2. 2+ 3+ 3+ were used as cations layers in a molar ratio (Mg /Fe /Al =2/0.5/0.5) 2+ 3+ 3+ information were recorded by X-ray integration sphere. using a similar procedure based on the slow addition of an aqueous solution of Mg(NO3)2.6H2O and Al(NO3)3.9H2O, and Fe2(SO4)3 1M to a Na2CO3 2.4 Cell growth and treatment (0.5.10-2 M) solution, under stirring, at 45°C. The resulting slurries were aged about 20 h at 50°C. The The final products were recuperated by filtration, two copies of the HBV genome, were grown in washed several times with distilled water and dried RPMI 1640 medium (Euroclone) containing 10% under vacuum. fetal bovine serum (FBS), 50 units/ml penicillin, 50 HepG2.2.2.15 cells, stably transfected with μg/ml streptomycin, 2 mM Glutamax (Invitrogen) 2.2 Preparation of AuNPs/LDHs self-assemblies and 200 μg/ml of G418 (Gibco). When indicated, AuNPs/LDHs were added to the medium at 1g of the “freshly” calcined LDHs (at 500°C for 7 h) different concentrations, to investigate their cellular was added, under very vigorous stirring, at 150 ml toxicity and potential antiviral properties against of 0.1 M aqueous solutions of Au(O2CCH3)3 (see Fig. HBV. 1). The obtained samples were aged at 30°C for 7 h, washed, centrifuged, dried under vacuum and denoted as AuNPs/LDHs, where LDHs is MgLDHs, 2.5 Cytotoxicity assay ZnLDHs or MgFeLDH while the final pH value of the reconstruction medium was 9.1, 8.3 and 8.7, Cytotoxicity of AuNPs/LDHs was determined by respectively. MTS(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymeth oxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-te assay, using the CellTiter 96® 2.3 Characterization trazolium) AQueous One Solution Cell Proliferation Assay kit (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). HepG2.2.2.15 cells were Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging treated with serial dilutions of NPs for 3 days, was performed on a Hitachi H900 transmission before addition of the MTS reagent. The 550 nm electron microscope operating at an accelerating absorbance was measured by using a microplate www.theNanoResearch.com∣www.Springer.com/journal/12274 | Nano Research 6 Nano Res. reader (Mitras Berthold) and expressed as percentage from untreated (control) cells. NanoDrop2000 spectrophotometer (Thermo). Equal amounts of RNA were reverse-transcribed using the SuperScript III First-Strand Synthesis kit (Invitrogen) 2.6 Quantification of HBV secretion by real-time PCR and the HBV-specific DNA was further quantified by real-time PCR, as described above. Actin amplification was employed as internal control. As HepG2 2.2.15 cells were grown in the absence the primers used for the HBV amplification are (control) or presence of AuNPs/LDHs for 3 days. specific for the S gene, the pregenomic (pg) RNA, Encapsidated viral DNA was purified form cell which overlaps the entire coding region of the viral supernatants by phenol-chloroform extraction as genome, will also be quantified using this assay, in described [32]. The DNA was quantified by addition to the envelope proteins transcripts. real-time PCR using the Corbett Rotor Gene 6000 system and the Maxima SYBR Green qPCR Master Mix (Fermentas). Primers were designed to amplify 2.9 Quantification of intracellular HBV nucleocapsid DNA a 279 bp HBV-specific fragment within the S gene: HBV3575-3854_for, 5’- HepG2.2.2.15 cells were grown in the absence and (control) or presence of AuNPs/LDHs for 3 days. 5’- Cells were counted under the microscope and equal TGGCCCCCAATACCACATCATCC-3’. The numbers were lysed in a buffer containing 1M number was Tris-HCl (pH 8), 250 mM EDTA and 0.5 % NP-40. determined using a calibration curve containing Encapsidated viral DNA was further purified form known amounts of HBV DNA and expressed as cell lysates by phenol-chloroform extraction and percentages from control (untreated) samples. quantified by real-time PCR as described above. 2.7 Quantification of HBV SVP secretion by 2.10 Quantification of intracellular HBV envelope TCCAGGATCCTCAACAACCAGCACG-3’ HBV3575-3854_rev, of viral genome equivalents ELISA proteins by sodium-dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis The HepG2.2.2.15 supernatants used for HBV (SDS-PAGE) and Western Blotting. quantification were also analysed for the amount of secreted SVP, using the Monolisa HBsAg Ultra Kit AuNPs/LDHs-treated and control HepG2.2.2.15 (Bio-Rad) and a Mitras Berthold microplate reader. cells were lysed in a buffer containing 10 mM The results were obtained as ratios of signal to Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, cut-off value and were converted to percentages 0.5 % TritonX-100 and a mixture of protease form control (untreated) sample. inhibitors (Sigma-Aldrich). Cell lysates were centrifuged at 14,000 x g for 10 min and the total 2.8 Quantification transcripts by of intracellular reverse-transcription HBV protein (RT) supernatants using the BCA method (Pierce). Equal real-time PCR. amounts content of SDS-PAGE was proteins and determined were transferred loaded to in onto clear the nitrocellulose Total RNA from control or AuNPs/LDHs-treated membranes using a semi-dry blotter (BioRad). The HepG2.2.2.15 cells was isolated by Trizol extraction HBV proteins were detected by Western blotting (Invitrogen) following successive incubations of the membrane and quantified using the | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp 7 Nano Res. with mouse anti-PreS1 (Santa Cruz, dilution 1:1000) (200), (220), (311) and (222) planes of fcc gold can and HRP-labelled rabbit anti-mouse antibodies be indexed [35, 36]. Hence, the small NPs identified (Santa Cruz, dilution 1:10000). The proteins were by the dark dots dispersed on the particles of LDHs visualized using the ECL detection system (GE might be identified as NPs of Au. Healthcare). 3 Results and discussions 3.1 Physical_chemical characteristics of AuNPs/LDHs self-assemblies The morphology and microstructure of AuNPs/LDHs assemblies are evidenced by TEM and HRTEM results (see Fig. 2). A typical TEM image it is shown in Fig. 2A from which it is clearly evident the presence of aggregates of large and thin platelets with a mean diameter of about 150 nm. This morphology has been well consistent to that typical reported for LDHs-like crystallites [33, 34] and is almost similar for all AuNPs/LDHs. More magnified images show that very small nanoparticles, easily observed as dark contrast dots, are well-dispersed not only over the surface (Fig. 2B) but also at the interfaces (Fig. 2D) of the LDHs particles. The small NPs are almost spherical as shape and their average size, obtained by statistical analysis, were determined to be 3.2 nm, 3.7 nm and 2.9 nm, for AuNPs/MgLDH, AuNPs/MgFeLDH and AuNPs/ZnLDH, respectively (see Table 1). No evidence of small NPs unattached to the LDHs was found confirming these were formed and stabilized only on the LDHs surface. From the HRTEM image Figure 2 TEM image of A) AuNPs/MgLDH; B) AuNPs/ZnLDH; C) HRTEM image of AuNPs/MgFeLDH; D) AuNPs/MgLDH. XPS results further confirm the formation of AuNPs/LDHs assemblies and indicate that their similar Au content (equal to~ 4%, as indicated in Table 1). For AuNPs/MgFeLDH the survey XPS spectra is presented in Fig. 3 while the XPS spectra of AuNPs/MgLDHs and AuNPs/ZnLDHs are given in Fig. S1. Table 1 Physical-chemical characteristics of AuNPs/LDHs self-assemblies. (Fig. 2C) the lattice fringes with an interplanar spacing of 0.24 nm are observed and assigned to the {111} planes of face-centered cubic (fcc) Au (JCPDS No. 04-0784). The HRTEM image confirmed the crystalline character of the small NPs. Furthermore, the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern in the inset of Fig. 2C reveals a set of bright concentric rings in which the diffractions from (111), www.theNanoResearch.com∣www.Springer.com/journal/12274 | Nano Research 8 Nano Res. Figure 4 XRD patterns of _ AuNPs/ZnLDH; _ AuNPs/MgLDH; Figure 3 The survey XPS spectrum of AuNPs/MgFeLDH. _ AuNPs/MgFeLDH. The XPS analysis detected peaks from Au, Mg, Fe, also Al and O for AuNPs/MgFeLDH while Au, Zn, Al, reconstruction process of the LDHs has been and O were identified in the surface elemental completed for AuNPs/MgLDH while was not yet composition completed of AuNPs/ZnLDH. For identified. This for indicates that AuNPs/ZnLDH the and AuNPs/MgLDH Au, Mg, Al and O were identified AuNPs/MgFeLDH. It can be also observed that all from the binding energy (BE) values of Au4f, Mg2p, (00l) reflections are characterized by high intensities Al2p and O1s. Hence, XPS results indicate the demonstrating joined surface composition of AuNPs and specific reconstructed LDH-like phase. The LDHs average LDH clay matrix. The phase identity of the crystallite sizes were calculated from the (003) and AuNPs/LDHs was further confirmed by XRD (006) reflections employing the Debye-Scherrer analysis. The XRD patterns are depicted in Fig. 4. equation [38]. The obtained values are around 150 For AuNPs/MgLDH the X-ray diffraction pattern nm and are consistent with that given by TEM reveals the presence of a single crystalline phase analysis. Assuming a 3R stacking of the layers and with reflections clearly assigned to the regular from the positions of the peaks due to the planes layered structure of hydrotalcite-like clay (ICDD file (003) and (110) the interlayer space (where 0.48 nm No. 22-700), in which a series of sharp and is the width of the brucite-like layer) is calculated symmetric basal reflections of the (00ℓ, ℓ = 3, 6, 9) 1.24±0.1 nm. The value is the consequence of the planes and broad, less intense, reflections for the expanded LDHs layers, due to the intercalation of nonbasal (01ℓ, ℓ = 2, 5, 8) planes are easily acetate anions into the inter-layer spaces of the recognized [34, 37]. On the other hand, in the XRD reconstructed LDHs and is consistent with that patterns of AuNPs/ZnLDH and AuNPs/MgFeLDH previously reported by Prevot et al. [39] for acetate besides the reflections assigned to the regular intercalated LDHs. No peaks characteristic of Au layered structure of LDH some weaker reflections phase (marked by (*) in Fig. 4), with positions which AuNPs/LDHs though it should be considered that roughly coincide with those of mixed oxides that such small and highly dispersed NPs might not be define the structure of the calcined LDHs, can be detected by XRD analysis [40]. In a previous study | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp can be the high noticed crystallinity in the of patterns the of 9 Nano Res. we showed that calcination at high temperatures of during the calcination process. Fig. 6 compares the NPs/LDHs self-assemblies gives rise to a high UV-Vis spectra of AuNPs/LDHs. As expected from increase (up to ten times) in the size of the the change in colour of AuNPs/LDHs (the inset of supported NPs due to their aggregation process [23]. Fig. 6) the strong and broad surface plasmon As a consequence, after calcination, the larger NPs resonance (SPR) band, a marker of well-dispersed could be detected by XRD analysis [22, 23]. Hence, AuNPs [41], can be clearly observed in all we further analysed the XRD patterns of the AuNPs/LDHs. AuNPs/LDHs calcined at 750°C (see Fig. 5). Figure 5 The XRD patterns of AuNPs/MgLDH; _ _ AuNPs/ZnLDH; _ AuNPs/MgFeLDH after calcination at 750°C. Figure 6 UV-Vis absorption spectra of It shows that the LDHs layered structure is _ AuNPs/ZnLDH; _ AuNPs/MgLDH; _ AuNPs/MgFeLDH. destroyed giving rise to mixtures of mixed oxides with compositions determined by the specific This provides a strong evidence for the presence of compositions of the LDH precursors. Further, the the nanosized-Au in AuNPs/LDHs assemblies. For XRD spectra of the calcined samples show some all the samples the absorption in the UV region is common reflections defined by four well developed defined by high intensities peaks that can be reflections at 2θ = 38.1, 44.3, 64.5 and 77.4˚ that assigned to the optical responses of the LDHs matched to the diffraction lines of the (111), (200), matrices and/or their derived mixed oxides, in the (220) and (311) planes of face-centered cubic (fcc) of conditions that he XRD results point out that the Au peak structural reconstruction processes of ZnLDH and corresponding to the (111) plane is more intense MgFeLDH were not complete. Apart from the than the other planes suggesting that (111) is the absorption in the UV region the SPR band of predominant orientation. The identification of the AuNPs can be clearly identified by a peak centered crystalline Au by XRD analysis, after calcination at at 535 nm. This value indicates the presence of the 750°C, is due to the increase in the size of AuNPs gold in its metallic state [42]. Hence, this confirms (JCPDS Card No. 65-2870). The www.theNanoResearch.com∣www.Springer.com/journal/12274 | Nano Research 10 Nano Res. that the state of AuNPs was not influenced by the different composition of the LDHs. On the other hand, the SPR peak intensity increased from AuNPs/MgLDH to AuNPs/ZnLDH and AuNPs/MgFeLDH, respectively, without any shift in the position. It is known that the intensity of the plasmon absorbance might be influenced by the gold content, the particle size of gold and/or the nano-gold surroundings environment [43, 44]. Considering that AuNPs/LDHs are defined by the similar content of gold and similar dimensions of AuNPs (see Table 1) the different compositions of the LDHs might provide specific environmental characteristics for AuNPs in gold-clay assemblies [23]. Thus, the specific environment of the clay matrix might give rise to the specific features of the plasmonic responses of AuNPs in AuNPs/LDHs assemblies. Figure 7 Cytoxicity data for A) AuNPs/MgFeLDH; B) AuNPs/ZnLDH; C) AuNPs/MgLDH. 3.2 Cytotoxicity of AuNPs/LDHs Based on these results we considered the non-toxic Cytotoxicity of AuNPs/LDHs assemblies was concentration range [0-125] µ g/ml for all the evaluated to rule out any interference with potential samples to further evaluate their effect against antiviral effects. The viability of HepG2.215 cells HBV. was determined relative to control, as a function of the different AuNPs/LDHs concentrations (15, 30, 3.3 Antiviral activity of AuNPs/LDHs 60, 125 and 250 µ g/ml) after 3 days of incubation, by MTS assay (Fig. 7). The results show that the cells To determine the ability of AuNPs/LDH to inhibit exposed to AuNPs/MgFeLDH are more than 94% HBV, the virus particles load was quantified in viable for the whole concentration range (panel A). supernatants of HepG2.2.2.15 cells treated with a Cells incubation with AuNPs/ZnLDH resulted in no range of NPs concentrations. Remarkably, all significant loss of viability for concentrations up AuNPs/LDH formulations have shown a significant to125 µ g/ml; however, when the AuNPs/ZnLDHs antiviral effect (Fig. 8) AuNPs/MgFeLDH being concentration was increased to 250 µ g/ml the cells most potent of all (more than 90% inhibition of HBV viability lowered by almost 20% (panel B). Further, secretion) (Fig. 8, panel A). AuNPs/MgLDH was revealed to be completely inhibited HBV in a dose-dependent manner (Fig. 8, non-toxic to the cells regardless the concentration panel B), a peculiar behaviour was observed for used (panel C). AuNPs/MgFeLDH, which While AuNPs/ZnLDH was already very efficient at low concentrations (Fig. 8 panel A). A similar effect was evidenced for AuNPs/MgLDH, | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp 11 Nano Res. which, however, appeared to lose some antiviral AuNPs/LDHs nanostructured assemblies do not potency with increasing concentrations (Fig. 8 C). impair the conventional cell secretory pathway [45]. Figure 8 Inhibitory effect of A) AuNPs/MgFeLDH; B) Figure 9 Inhibitory effect of A) AuNPs/MgFeLDH; B) AuNPs/ZnLDH; C) AuNPs/MgLDH on the expression of AuNPs/ZnLDH; C) AuNPs/MgLDH on the expression of SVP. hepatitis B virus. In contrast, the AuNPs/MgLDH inhibition of both Considering the similar content of nano-gold in viral and subviral HBV particles (Fig. 8 and Fig 9, AuNPs/LDHs the specific antiviral behaviour might panels C), might indicate an interference with either be a consequence of the particular kinetics features their assembly or secretion. It is interesting to note of intracellular Au release from AuNPs/LDHs that a previous report has shown little efficacy of 10 assemblies that could be a function of the different nm gold nanoparticles prepared by sodium citrate composition of the LDHs. Thus, we might assume reduction, against HBV [46]. These differences in that the HBV inhibition cannot be accounted for by the NPs AuNPs/MgFeLDH and AuNPs/MgLDH than for size and shape, as the AuNPs introduced here are the AuNPs/ZnLDH. This hypothesis supposes that also very small, ranging between 2.9 and 3.7 nm. the threshold required for the Au-induced HBV Rather, the environment provided by the clay inhibition is rather low. Interestingly, unlike the matrix structure, possibly enabling a controlled AuNPs/MgLDH, AuNPs release of nano-gold and preventing premature formulations did not significantly inhibit the aggregation of NPs might be the key factor of the secretion of non-infectious HBV particles (Fig. 9, improved antiviral properties of these assemblies. panels A and B). This suggests that the effect Furthermore, observed as-synthesized LDHs showed a modest antiviral this process in Fig. is the 8 more efficient other is two for virus-specific and results reveal that www.theNanoResearch.com∣www.Springer.com/journal/12274 | Nano all the Research 12 Nano Res. activity of about 20% inhibition of HBV (see Fig. 2S). significantly higher in the presence of AuNPs/LDHs It is also important to note that the cellular toxicity (Fig. 10B). of AuNPs/LDHs nanostructured assemblies is significantly lower than that of the LDH matrices (see Fig. 3S), revealing a cell protective effect induced by the presence of nano-gold. 3.1 The mechanism of AuNPs/LDHs action against HBV The HBV life-cycle begins with virion attachment to specific receptors at the hepatocyte surface, removal of the envelope within the endocytic pathway and the release of the circular, partially double stranded DNA (pdsDNA) genome from the naked nucleocapsid [47]. The hepatocyte nucleus hosts the pdsDNA convertion into covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which serves as template for transcription of pregenomic (pg) and subgenomic mRNAs. These are exported to the cytoplasm where the pgRNA is reverse-transcribed into pdsDNA within the viral nucleocapsid [47]. The HepG2.2.2.15 cells are stably transfected with two Figure 10 A) Intracellular analysis of HBV RNA --- control; copies of the HBV genome and allow for full AuNPs/MgFeLDH; replication cycle, assembly and secretion of SVPs Intracellular and infectious virions; however, they are not AuNPs/MgFeLDH; -- AuNPs/ZnLDH; susceptible for infection and no horizontal --- AuNPs/ZnLDH; analysis of HBV --- AuNPs/MgLDH; B) DNA --- --- --- control; --- AuNPs/MgLDH; for a AuNPs/LDHs concentration of 125 μg/ml. spreading of the virus occurs in these cells (or in other in vitro cellular models). Therefore, to search Corroborated with the drastic reduction of the virus for the mechanism of HBV inhibition, we have particles in cell supernatants (Fig. 8), this result investigated in detail important steps of viral strongly suggests that the HBV particles are replication/assembly and protein synthesis in the sequestered within treated cells. This hypothesis is presence of the highest AuNPs/LDHs concentration also supported by the analysis of the L envelope (125 μg/ml), which has efficiently reduced the virus protein, which plays crucial roles in nucleocapsid load. Quantification of the HBV transcripts has envelopment, while being less incorporated in SVPs. shown no significant changes between control and Similar to the effect on the viral DNA, the treated cells (Fig. 10A), indicating that neither viral AuNPs/LDHs induced a clear accumulation of both, transcription nor the RNAs stability were affected glycosylated (gp) and non-glycosylated (p) L by AuNPs/LDHs. Next, the synthesis of HBV DNA isoforms (Fig. 11). As the level of viral mRNAs was was investigated in intact nucleocapsids extracted similar in control and treated cells, the effect form observed indicates a strong intracellular retention of control and AuNPs/LDHs-treated cells. Surprisingly, the amount of viral DNA was these proteins in the presence of AuNPs/LDHs. | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp 13 Nano Res. cells. AuNPs/LDHs are similar regarding the gold content, the texture of the gold nanoparticles hence the specific antiviral behaviour might be a consequence of the specific composition of the LDHs that might establish particular features of the gold release from AuNPs/LDHs composites and/or give rise to specific synergetic effects between the plasmonic gold environment. and The the particular fabrication LDHs procedure of AuNPs/LDHs is simple taking the advantage of the Figure 11 Western blotting revealing the glycosylated (gp) and capability of the LDHs to form small NPs of Au (~ nonglycosylated (p) isoforms of the HBV large (L) envelope 3.5 nm) on the larger clay particles during the protein in untreated, control cells (1) and cells treated with structural reconstruction of the calcined LDHs in AuNPs/MgFeLDH or the aqueous solution of Au(O2CCH3)3. With respect AuNPs/MgLDH (4), at the concentrations indicated. The to conventional antiviral HBV drugs, the prominent numbers on the left represent the protein molecular weight in advantages of kiloDaltons (kDa). interesting mechanism (2), AuNPs/ZnLDH (3) AuNPs/LDHs, of such action as their and good biocompatibility, open new ways towards the These interesting effects suggest a direct interaction development between viral particles and AuNPs/LDHs, leading nanocomposites. of highly efficient antiviral to trapping of the formers inside cells. Future studies will address the exact nature of these interactions and whether the naked nucleocapsid, Acknowledgments enveloped particles or even the viral DNA are involved. Inhibition of HBV secretion is a valuable The authors are grateful for the financial supports mechanism of action, especially in the context of a from complete HBV life cycle in vivo, preventing virus Scientific spreading and reinfection. (PN-II-ID-PCE-75/2013) the Romanian National Research, Authority for CNCS-UEFISCDI and the Romanian Academy. 4 Conclusions Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material (image characterization and supporting Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold and layered figures as referred to in the manuscript) is available double hydroxides have been probed as novel in potential antiviral therapeutics against hepatitis B http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12274-***-****-* virus. AuNPs/MgFeLDH has shown the highest antiviral HBV response with more than 90% inhibition of HBV secretion at very low concentrations, while for AuNPs/ZnLDH the HBV inhibition is dose dependent. A direct interaction between viral particles and AuNPs/LDHs was the online version of this article at References [1] Parkin, D. M. Global cancer statistics in the year 2000. Lancet. Oncol. 2001, 2, 533-543. [2] Huang, T. J.; Chuang, H.; Liang, Y. C.; Lin, H. H.; Horng, J. C.; Kuo, Y. C; Chen, C. W.; Tsai, F. Y.; Yen, S. 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Electronic Supplementary Material Self-assemblies of plasmonic gold/layered double hydroxides with highly efficient antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus Gabriela Carja1 (), Elena Florentina Grosu1, Catalina Petrarean2 and Norica Nichita2 Supporting information to DOI 10.1007/s12274-****-****-* (automatically inserted by the publisher) Figure S1 The survey XPS spectrum of A) AuNPs/MgLDH; B) AuNPs/ZnLDH. www.theNanoResearch.com∣www.Springer.com/journal/12274 | Nano Research Nano Res. Figure S2 Inhibitory effect of A) MgFeLDH; B) ZnLDH; C) MgLDH on the expression of hepatitis B virus. Figure S3 Cytoxicity data for A) MgFeLDH; B) ZnLDH; C) MgLDH. Address correspondence to: [email protected] | www.editorialmanager.com/nare/default.asp