pulmonary epithelial nanosponges

Pulmonary epithelial nanosponges are a **biomimetic cell membrane-coated nanoparticle** therapeutic developed at UC San Diego and commercialized by Cellics Therapeutics for antiviral use, initially focused on COVID-19. The product consists of a **poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle core coated with membranes derived from human lung epithelial type II cells**, thereby displaying host-cell entry factors such as ACE2 and CD147 on the particle surface. Its proposed mechanism is to act as a **decoy nanomedicine** that binds SARS-CoV-2 virions through viral surface proteins, especially spike protein, and neutralizes infectivity in a mutation-tolerant manner by intercepting virus before host-cell entry. Published preclinical work reported substantial in vitro reduction of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, but no brand name, approved product status, or clinical-stage human development has been clearly established from the provided information.

Other names

pulmonary epithelial nanospongesEpithelial-NSlung epithelial type II cell nanosponges