N-Succinyl Chitosan and Quaternary Chitosan Electrospun Nanofibers for Antiviral Filters against Enveloped Viruses

Globally, enveloped viruses have caused many fatalities, especially during outbreaks and pandemics. Developing antiviral filters that can reduce mortality rates caused by enveloped viruses is essential, particularly in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. In this study, two chitosan derivatives─N-succinyl chitosan (NSC) and N-(2-hydroxy)propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC)─were synthesized. For the first time, the antiviral activity of NSC against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) was assessed. The two derivatives were further reduced to nanoscale through polyelectrolyte complexation to evaluate their combined antiviral activity for the first time. The nanoparticles (NPs) were incorporated into an interconnected network of ethyl cellulose nanofibers created via electrospinning to increase surface area. These nanofibers were used to develop an antiviral filter targeting enveloped viruses. They were characterized by their morphology, surface charge, pore size, and surface area─key factors influencing their filtration effectiveness. In vitro cytotoxicity tests indicated that the filters were nontoxic to TZM-bl cells, supporting their safety. Neutralization assays demonstrated that the filters could inhibit over 70% of HIV-1 infections within 40 s. Reusability studies revealed that the filters could be used up to three times with inhibition rates exceeding 90%. The findings show that these nanoparticles and nanofiber filters are effective and safe for antiviral applications.