PEG immunocamouflage
PEG has been shown to protect cell membrane by creating a physical barrier that prevents antigen recognition (Eugene, 2004). This effect has been commonly denoted as immunocamouflage or immunomaskage. In fact, the high number of water molecules binding on PEG chain produces a physical and charge-neutralization barrier making cell membrane less permeable to extracellular elements (Wicomb et al., 1990, Zheng et al., 1991, Shi, 2013). Immunomasking effect of PEG has been used to reduce host immune reaction after organ transplantation (Perrin et al., 2009) and to decrease the risk of transfusion reactions and alloimmunization of donor red blood cells (Bradley and Scott, 2007). Also, PEG has been used to coat gene therapy vectors, such as adenovirus, to protect them from inactivation by the immune system in vivo (Mok et al., 2005).
Taking this into account, PEG could create a neutralization barrier preventing coronavirus recognition of its receptors and thus inhibiting virus entry and invasion.