Proteolytic Immunoliposomes: A Theoretical Framework for Enzymatic Inactivation of HIV-1 via gp120 Cleavage

Background: HIV-1 entry is mediated by the envelope glycoprotein gp120, whose conserved receptor-binding regions are susceptible to proteolytic cleavage by endosomal cysteine cathepsins. Objective: To propose a theoretical design for proteolytic immunoliposomes that display anti-gp120 targeting moieties and carry cysteine proteases to catalytically cleave gp120 and inactivate virions. Conclusion: We outline a testable framework for protease-bearing, anti-gp120 immunoliposomes as a novel antiviral modality. This is a theoretical proposal; experimental validation is pending.