Author(s): Keira Lentz, Madelyn Friel
Mentor(s): David Britt, Elizabeth Vargis
Institution SNOW
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a herpes class virus that is the leading cause of nonhereditary birth defects. The current treatment is ganciclovir, which is often toxic at therapeutic concentrations when administered for extended periods. Our goal is to make a new treatment utilizing the antioxidant quercetin, which has antiviral properties. However, quercetin also has low bioavailability due to its low solubility in water. By encapsulating quercetin in a poloxamer 188 micelle (QP188), we are able to deliver it to the cells at a desired concentration and increase its bioavailability. We are testing a new method of creating this quercetin micelle by comparing our original thin film hydration method using acetone as an organic solvent and a newer aqueous method as a greener and more efficient way to make our CMV treatment. This new aqueous method was found to be equivalent to our thin film hydration method of making our QP188. By utilizing the aqueous method, we are making a more time efficient treatment that expresses equivalent viral inhibition as compared to the original treatment.