Eradication of HIV and HIV-Infected cells by Nanoparticle-Activated Autophagy

Johnny He of Indiana University proposes to engineer biodegradable nanoparticles that target active and latent HIV-infected cells by binding to the carbohydrate portion of the protein gp120, which the virus uses to seek out host cells. The "sticky" nanoparticles would then bind HIV, either in the blood, or within cells, killing the virus.