The antiviral effect of fullerene-liposome complex against influenza virus (H1N1) in vivo

Influenza viruses are important pathogens for humans and the discovery of novel anti-influenza drugs with low toxicity deserves great efforts. Fullerenes have attracted considerable attention in different fields of sciences including antiviral activity. We synthesized a fullerene-liposome incorporated compound and investigated its antiviral activity on influenza virus infection in a mouse model. The results showed that fullerene-liposome could reduce mean pulmonary virus yields, decrease the lung index and eventually significantly prolong mean time to death (MTD) and decrease mortality of H1N1 virus-infected mice. Our data indicated that fullerene-liposome has the anti-influenza activity in vivo at much lower concentrations as compared to the Rimantadine, and then reveals that fullerene-liposome is a promising agent in the clinical therapy of influenza infection with favorable water-solubility and low toxicity.   Key words: Fullerene-liposome, influenza virus infection, antiviral activity