Core Cross-Linked Poly(Styrene Sulfonate) as Broad-Spectrum Virucidals

Antiviral materials that display broad-spectrum activity, as well as having a virucidal mode of action, are imperative to tackling future viral outbreaks. Anionic polymers have previously been reported as being antiviral, but due to their reversible binding with virus (virustatic), have shown to be irrelevant for in vivo applications. Herein, we present the synthesis of poly(styrene sulfonate) core cross-linked polymers with differing number of arms and core sizes. We demonstrate that all poly(styrene sulfonate)-based star shaped polymers synthesised are antiviral against numerous virus types with a virucidal mechanism. This demonstrates a facile one-step synthetic procedure, through core-crosslinking of linear polymers, to achieve previously elusive virucidal materials.