Fig. 3: Next-generation antiviral cages.
From: Nonviral protein cages as tools to decipher and combat viral threats
By mimicking the early stages of the viral life cycle, NVPCs can be leveraged to develop antiviral strategies that both treat infected patients and prevent further viral spread. First, NVPCs compete for receptor binding, blocking viral entry. After cellular uptake via receptor-mediated endocytosis, engineered cages escape the endosome and release their payload (here depicted as an siRNA molecule). The delivery of nucleic acids targeting viral mRNA or host entry factors provides a final antiviral effect, significantly reducing viral infectivity. This figure was inspired by a template from BioRender176,177.
