Anti-Coronaviral Nanocluster Restrain Infections of SARS-CoV-2 and Associated Mutants through Virucidal Inhibition and 3CL Protease Inactivation

Antivirals that can combat coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and associated mutants, are urgently needed but lacking. Simultaneously targeting the viral physical structure and replication cycle can endow antivirals with sustainable and broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus efficacy, which is difficult to achieve using a single small-molecule antiviral. Thus, a library of nanomaterials on GX_P2V, a SARS-CoV-2-like coronavirus of pangolin origin, is screened and a surface-functionalized gold nanocluster (TMA-GNC) is identified as the top hit. TMA-GNC inhibits transcription- and replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles and all tested pseudoviruses of SARS-CoV-2 variants. TMA-GNC prevents viral dissemination through destroying membrane integrity physically to enable a virucidal effect, interfering with viral replication by inactivating 3CL protease and priming the innate immune system against coronavirus infection. TMA-GNC exhibits biocompatibility and significantly reduces viral titers, inflammation, and pathological injury in lungs and tracheas of GX_P2V-infected hamsters. TMA-GNC may have a role in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and inhibiting future emerging coronaviruses or variants.