UM15 reinforces a lymphocyte-mimicking nanotrap for precise HIV-1 inhibition

Even the potential of T cell-mimicking nanotrap for long term viral control due to its overcoming of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) genetic diversity and viral resistance, the robust HIV inhibition was not expected because these nanotraps displayed no obvious advantages compared with the infinite host cells. Herein, a glycoprotein 120 (gp120)-targeting polypeptide UM15 reinforced lymphocyte-mimicking nanotrap was constructed, and its improved HIV-1 inhibiting efficacy was validated. According to the results, the constructed nanotraps exhibited evident escaping ability from uptake of the mononuclear phagocyte system and highly improved binding ability with gp120 proteins. The constructed nanotraps neutralized all tested HIV-1 pseudo typed viruses with IC80 of 21.0 μg/mL, and inhibited both X4-tropic and R5-tropic HIV-1 with IC80 of 34.4 and 20.6 μg/mL, respectively. Approximately 40% of gp120 was observed to be shed from pseudo virus, and above 40% bystander T cells were prevented from gp120-induced death by the constructed nanotraps. The safety of the constructed nanotraps was confirmed both in vitro and in mice. Therefore, the constructed nanotraps could specifically neutralize free HIV-1, selectively bind with gp120 expressing HIV-1 infected cells, cause gp120 shedding, inhibit gp120-induced bystander T cell killing on the premise of safety, and were considered as promising therapeutic agents for precise inhibition of HIV.