Molecules, Vol. 25, Pages 2628: Encapsidation of Different Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles by the CCMV CP

Molecules, Vol. 25, Pages 2628: Encapsidation of Different Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles by the CCMV CP Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules25112628 Authors: Ana L. Durán-Meza Martha I. Escamilla-Ruiz Xochitl F. Segovia-González Maria V. Villagrana-Escareño J. Roger Vega-Acosta Jaime Ruiz-Garcia Different types of gold nanoparticles have been synthesized that show great potential in medical applications such as medical imaging, bio-analytical sensing and photothermal cancer therapy. However, their stability, polydispersity and biocompatibility are major issues of concern. For example, the synthesis of gold nanorods, obtained through the elongated micelle process, produce them with a high positive surface charge that is cytotoxic, while gold nanoshells are unstable and break down in a few weeks due to the Ostwald ripening process. In this work, we report the self-assembly of the capsid protein (CP) of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) around spherical gold nanoparticles, gold nanorods and gold nanoshells to form virus-like particles (VLPs). All gold nanoparticles were synthesized or treated to give them a negative surface charge, so they can interact with the positive N-terminus of the CP leading to the formation of the VLPs. To induce the protein self-assembly around the negative gold nanoparticles, we use different pH and ionic strength conditions determined from a CP phase diagram. The encapsidation with the viral CP will provide the nanoparticles better ...
Source: Molecules - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research