title: Mechanism of inactivation of influenza viruses by immobilized hydrophobic polycations.
abstract: N,N-dodecyl,methyl-polyethylenimine coatings applied to solid surfaces have been shown by us to disinfect aqueous solutions of influenza viruses. Herein we elucidate the mechanism of this phenomenon. Infectivity-, protein-, RNA-, and scanning electron microscopy-based experiments reveal that, upon contact with the hydrophobic polycationic coating, influenza viruses (including pathogenic human and avian, both wild-type and drug-resistant, strains) irreversibly adhere to it, followed by structural damage and inactivation; subsequently, viral RNA is released into solution, while proteins remain adsorbed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Sze
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yinn Wong
authors.forename: Paula T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Jianzhu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Klibanov
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011073:Polyamines / Q000633:toxicity*; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D012367:RNA, Viral; C525941:N,N-dodecyl,methyl-polyethylenimine