Purpose To investigate if amniotic membrane (AM) incubated with antivirals can inhibit viral growth in vitro.

Methods AM samples were incubated with a solution of acyclovir or trifluridine. The treated AM was placed onto monolayers of Vero cells, a continuous cell line from monkey kidney, infected with herpes simplex virus. Viral growth was assessed in comparison to control infected cells by direct examination with an inverted microscope at low magnification for the presence and extension of the typical cytopathic effect, or by estimation of viral genomes.

Results AM soaked in acyclovir or trifluridine inhibited significantly the development of herpes simplex virus in cell cultures, based on the viral growth compared with controls. Non-treated AM did not significantly affect viral replication.

Conclusions Our preliminary in vitro data show that antiviral-treated amniotic membrane can inhibit viral replication. Therefore, the possibility to combine the previously published anti-inflammatory properties of AM with the capability to absorb antivirals and sustain drug release could be taken into consideration.