Nanochiral graphene quantum dots preferentially target virus-organized membrane states for host-sparing antiviral activity

Abstract

Selectively perturbing pathogenic membranes while preserving host-cell integrity is a fundamental challenge in the design of membrane-active biomaterials. This challenge is particularly acute for enveloped viruses because their lipid membranes are derived from host cells and therefore share many of the same molecular constituents. Here, we demonstrate that engineered nanochirality provides a structural parameter for distinguishing virus-organized membrane nanodomains from host-cell membranes. Histidine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (His-GQDs) form enantiomeric nanoscale structures with distinct interfacial topologies despite closely matched size, composition, and surface charge. D-His-GQDs preferentially interact with cholesterol-rich ordered membrane nanodomains associated with S-acylated coronavirus Spike, penetrate more deeply into raft-like lipid bilayers, and induce lipid disordering, membrane leakage, and viral-envelope disruption. Reducing Spike S-acylation or depleting membrane cholesterol attenuated this stereoselective interaction, while molecular simulations revealed asymmetric lipid organization surrounding S-acylated Spike and preferential insertion of D-His-GQDs into the ordered membrane environment. Functionally, D-His-GQDs directly inactivated human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), inhibited infection with an EC50 of 0.92 g/mL and exhibited a selectivity index of 361. Stereoselective antiviral activity extended to human cytomegalovirus, demonstrating activity across distinct enveloped-virus families, and intranasal D-His-GQDs protected HCoV-OC43-challenged mice under both prophylactic and early post-exposure regimens. Overall, these findings establish structural nanochirality as a biomaterial design parameter for recognizing higher-order membrane organization and converting virus-associated membrane states into selectively addressable therapeutic vulnerabilities.