Specific Interaction of Influenza Virus with Organized Assemblies of Polydiacetylenes

Supramolecular organizates of liposomes and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films are described which are capable of specifically binding to pathogens such as influenza virus. The specific interaction is between the hemagglutinin protein of the virus and an α-C-glycoside of sialic acid expressed on the surface of the liposome or LB film. Sialic acidcontaining liposomes were found to inhibit influenza virus infectivity in cell culture, and may provide a basis for new materials which act as therapeutic agents. Sialic acid-containing LB films also specifically bind to the influenza virus. In this case, the conjugated polymer backbone acts as a built-in reporter of the binding event, measurable by a chromatic change in the visible absorption spectrum. These films may provide a basis for new materials which act as direct detectors of binding