The study investigates the interaction of silver nanoparticles with HIV-1, focusing on the size-dependent binding of nanoparticles to the virus. The researchers found that only nanoparticles ranging from 1 to 10 nm in size attached to the virus, suggesting a preferential binding to the gp120 glycoprotein knobs on the viral envelope. The spatial arrangement of the nanoparticles and their center-to-center distance support this hypothesis. Silver nanoparticles were shown to inhibit HIV-1 infectivity in vitro, likely by blocking the binding of gp120 to host cells. The study also highlights the importance of capping agents in the toxicity and inhibition effects of the nanoparticles. Overall, the findings provide insights into the potential of silver nanoparticles as antiviral agents and the need for further research on the long-term effects of nanomaterials.The study investigates the interaction of silver nanoparticles with HIV-1, focusing on the size-dependent binding of nanoparticles to the virus. The researchers found that only nanoparticles ranging from 1 to 10 nm in size attached to the virus, suggesting a preferential binding to the gp120 glycoprotein knobs on the viral envelope. The spatial arrangement of the nanoparticles and their center-to-center distance support this hypothesis. Silver nanoparticles were shown to inhibit HIV-1 infectivity in vitro, likely by blocking the binding of gp120 to host cells. The study also highlights the importance of capping agents in the toxicity and inhibition effects of the nanoparticles. Overall, the findings provide insights into the potential of silver nanoparticles as antiviral agents and the need for further research on the long-term effects of nanomaterials.