title: Alginate hydrogel protects encapsulated hepatic HuH-7 cells against hepatitis C virus and other viral infections.
abstract: Cell microencapsulation in alginate hydrogel has shown interesting applications in regenerative medicine and the biomedical field through implantation of encapsulated tissue or for bioartificial organ development. Although alginate solution is known to have low antiviral activity, the same property regarding alginate gel has not yet been studied. The aim of this work is to investigate the potential protective effect of alginate encapsulation against hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for a hepatic cell line (HuH-7) normally permissive to the virus. Our results showed that alginate hydrogel protects HuH-7 cells against HCV when the supernatant was loaded with HCV. In addition, alginate hydrogel blocked HCV particle release out of the beads when the HuH-7 cells were previously infected and encapsulated. There was evidence of interaction between the molecules of alginate hydrogel and HCV, which was dose- and incubation time-dependent. The protective efficiency of alginate hydrogel towards HCV infection was confirmed against a variety of viruses, whether or not they were enveloped. This promising interaction between an alginate matrix and viruses, whose chemical mechanisms are discussed, is of great interest for further medical therapeutic applications based on tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 7338 Biomechanics and Bioingineering, University of Technology, Compiègne, France.
authors.forename: Nhu-Mai
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 7338 Biomechanics and Bioingineering, University of Technology, Compiègne, France.
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dufresne
authors.affiliation: EA4294 Department of Fundamental and Clinical Virology, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Helle
authors.affiliation: EA4294 Department of Fundamental and Clinical Virology, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Thomas Walter
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: EA4294 Department of Fundamental and Clinical Virology, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: François
authors.affiliation: EA4294 Department of Fundamental and Clinical Virology, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brochot
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 7338 Biomechanics and Bioingineering, University of Technology, Compiègne, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paullier
authors.affiliation: UMR CNRS 7338 Biomechanics and Bioingineering, University of Technology, Compiègne, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Legallais
authors.affiliation: EA4294 Department of Fundamental and Clinical Virology, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duverlie
authors.affiliation: EA4294 Department of Fundamental and Clinical Virology, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castelain
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018914:Cells, Immobilized / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology*; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008863:Microspheres; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002118:Calcium