Exploring the Antiviral Potential of Tungsten Oxide Nanoparticles Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1: A Promising Alternative to Acyclovir

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) is responsible for the majority of cold sores, herpetic keratitis‐induced blindness, profound skin lesions, and encephalitis that can be fatal. Currently, acyclovir and its derivatives are the first‐line therapy for the treatment of HSV‐1 infection. But there are drawbacks to these treatments: limited efficacy against drug‐resistant strains of the virus. Hence, it is of critical importance to explore and develop new antiviral drugs for HSV‐1. In the present study, we explored whether tungsten oxide nanoparticles (WO 3 NPs) were potent inhibitors of HSV‐1 infection as a new class of agent. WO 3 NPs were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis. Cytotoxicity of Vero cells caused by WO 3 NPs was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) assay was utilized for further verification of the action of the WO 3 NPs on HSV‐1. The cytotoxicity test showed low toxicity (