Entangling of Peptide Nanofibers Reduces the Invasiveness of SARS‐CoV‐2

Abstract

AbstractThe viral spike (S) protein on the surface of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) binds to angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on the host cells, facilitating its entry and infection. Here, functionalized nanofibers targeting the S protein with peptide sequences of IRQFFKK, WVHFYHK and NSGGSVH, which are screened from a high‐throughput one‐bead one‐compound screening strategy, are designed and prepared. The flexible nanofibers support multiple binding sites and efficiently entangle SARS‐CoV‐2, forming a nanofibrous network that blocks the interaction between the S protein of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the ACE2 on host cells, and efficiently reduce the invasiveness of SARS‐CoV‐2. In summary, nanofibers entangling represents a smart nanomedicine for the prevention of SARS‐CoV‐2.