In vitro anticoagulant and antiviral properties of low molecular weight sulfated chitosan from Loligo duvauceli against herpes simplex virus

Background This research investigates the anticoagulant and antiviral properties of chitosan (CH), a non-toxic marine polymer derived from squid waste. Chitin was extracted from the gladius of L. duvauceli and subsequently converted into CH. Following purification and freeze-drying, sulfated chitosan (SCH) was produced. To create low-molecular-weight sulfated chitosan (LMW-SCH), SCH was exposed to 100 Gy of gamma irradiation (GIR). Results The structural characteristics and molecular weight of LMW-SCH were analyzed using FT-IR, NMR, and MALDI-TOF/MS, which confirmed the transformation and reduction in molecular weight. In terms of anticoagulant activity, LMW-SCH exhibited prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) values of 1.93 IU/mg and 6.96 IU/mg, respectively, indicating its potential as an anticoagulant agent, although these values should be compared to standard heparin. The antiviral efficacy of LMW-SCH was assessed against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vitro, revealing a CC ₅₀ of 100 µg/ml, EC ₅₀ value of 200 µg/ml and SI = 0.5 in DMEM medium. Notably, LMW-SCH demonstrated a significant reduction in HSV-1 gene expression, suggesting a potential mechanism of action that warrants further investigation. Conclusions This study highlights the impact of GIR on the molecular weight and subsequent antiviral effectiveness of LMW-SCH, providing a foundation for future research into its therapeutic applications against HSV-1.