Surface Plasmon Resonance as a Tool in Antiviral Drug Discovery Research

Viruses are an indispensable part of the environment we live in. The occurrence of seasonal and pandemic infections underscores the urgent need to develop new antiviral drugs or repurpose existing ones. Among the methods used in research on new antiviral molecules, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has a well-established position due to its diverse applications in interaction analysis. It can be used to investigate various molecules (proteins, nucleic acids, small-molecular drugs) in different configurations and in real time. Although it is a gold-standard method for biomolecular interaction analysis, it is not free of constraints. Here, we review research on SPR in antiviral drug discovery. We focus on experimental design and discuss the application of SPR to investigate key stages of viral infection and to characterize antiviral interactions. In addition, we address the main limitations and challenges associated with SPR measurements and consider strategies for adapting the technique to meet the specific needs of antiviral research.