Simultaneous incorporation of the protease inhibitor nelfinavir (Nel) and bryostatin-2 (Bry) into the lipid nanoparticles (LNP-Bry-Nel) can both activate latent virus expression and inhibit viral spread.

(A) CEM cells were infected with HIV_NL4-3 and the cells were incubated for 3 days in the presence of various drug combinations including LNP-Bry-Nel. Viral p24 protein in the culture supernatant was measured by ELISA. (B) LNP-Bry-Nel was further tested for its ability to activate latent virus in J-Lat 10.6 cells as measured by induction of GFP expression. Error bars indicate the standard deviation of triplicate data points and are representative of at least 2 experiments. Media represents untreated infected cultures and LNP-con represents non-drug loaded nanoparticles.