Characterization of the inhibition of enveloped virus infectivity by the cationic acrylate polymer Eudragit E100

The antiviral effects of the cationic acrylate polymer E100 on a panel of lipid-enveloped viruses and the interactions involved are studied. The treatment of several common viruses with E100 induced a dose-dependent inhibition of the infectivity of viruses below the detection limit of the assays employed. Similarly, the treatment of human sera infected with HIV or HCV reduced virus RNA plasma levels to undetectable values. This implies that Eudragit E100 can interact with enveloped viruses, even in the presence of proteins, through a mechanism that is not reversed by titration of the positively charged groups of the polymer, opening the possibility to remove viral particles with the polymer as it is eliminated.