The exploitation of viruses for bionanoscience and synthetic biology approaches to new materials and devices

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The properties of plant and other viral particles make them natural building blocks for use in bionanoscience and synthetic biology. Adaptation of the virus particles facilitates their use as platforms for multivalent presentation of ligands and as templates for materials synthesis. The exploitation of the defined structures and features of virus like particles (VLPs) allows the development of novel nanoscale materials and devices and the development of tools and technologies of general use in the biosciences.

We are using the plant virus Cowpea mosaic virus, and other viruses, as synthons, templates, scaffolds and building blocks for uses in bionanoscience. Methods for the controlled functionalisation of VLPs are being developed, which will enable their use for the construction of new materials and devices. For example, synthetic biology approaches that combine viral particle functionalisation, either with chemicals or biological components such as enzymes, and directed array formation will provide routes to nanodevices such as biosensors or to “nanofactories” that can mimic parts of a metabolic pathway. Further, we are developing the use of VLPs for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, by encapsulation of therapeutic cargoes and surface modification with a targeting agent. Bioengineered and/or chemically modified VLPs are being made as templates for external mineralization of the virus to provide monodisperse mineral nanoparticles and these are assessed for their suitability for potential use in catalysis, magnetic storage devices and biomedicine.

Techniques employed in these studies include advanced synthetic chemistry, virus engineering technologies, and a range of spectroscopies and surface characterisation methods.

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