Inactivation of intracellular and non-enveloped viruses by a non-ionic naphthalene endoperoxide.

Singlet oxygen (1O2, 1delta(g)) selectively oxidizes many biological targets, some of which, such as viruses, are located intracellularly under in vivo conditions. Considering the short lifetime of 1O2 in aqueous media, it is essential to generate this species in close proximity to the targets. Therefore, a water-soluble and non-ionic carrier of 1O2, DHPNO2, has been designed to convey 1O2 through lipid membranes. In contrast to the known anionic carrier NDPO2, which inactivates only extracellular enveloped viruses, the new compound exhibits virucidal activity on all types of viruses, enveloped (HIV) and non-enveloped (Poliovirus), extracellular and intracellular. HIV inactivation can also be achieved in the presence of red blood cells, suggesting the possible use of DHPNO2 in the decontamination of cellular blood products.