Nanoscale device architectures derived from biological assemblies: The case of tobacco mosaic virus and (apo)ferritin

Abstract

Virus particles and proteins are excellent examples of naturally occurring structures with well-defined nanoscale architectures, for example, cages and tubes. These structures can be employed in a bottom-up assembly strategy to fabricate repetitive patterns of hybrid organic–inorganic materials. In this paper, we review methods of assembly that make use of protein and virus scaffolds to fabricate patterned nanostructures with very high spatial control. We chose (apo)ferritin and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as model examples that have already been applied successfully in nanobiotechnology. Their interior space and their exterior surfaces can be mineralized with inorganic layers or nanoparticles. Furthermore, their native assembly abilities can be exploited to generate periodic architectures for integration in electrical and magnetic devices. We introduce the state of the art and describe recent advances in biomineralization techniques, patterning and device production with (apo)ferritin and TMV.

Top-down design of magnonic crystals from bottom-up magnetic nanoparticles through protein arrays

“…With a modified crosslinking step, the methods presented here could be applied to colloidal crystals formed from arrays of chemically functionalized NPs as well as protein-templated NP arrays for a wide variety of applications. [44,45] …”

Capacitive Field-Effect EIS Chemical Sensors and Biosensors: A Status Report

“…More recently, a novel promising approach for the development of EnEIS biosensors was described in [ 103 , 114 ], where a highly sensitive penicillin biosensor with a superior lifetime was realized by means of modification of a Ta 2 O 5 -gate EIS structure with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles as scaffolds for the dense immobilization of enzymes. The TMV has a nanotube-like structure with an average length of 300 nm, an outer diameter of 18 nm, and an internal channel of 4 nm in diameter [ 115 , 116 ]. The TMV surface holds thousands of sites capable for the coupling of various biological receptors, including enzymes.…”

Covalent incorporation of tobacco mosaic virus increases the stiffness of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels

“…24 TMV has been investigated as a carrier scaffold for example for enzymes, or as template for mineralisation for more than twenty years. 25,26 Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be obtained with articially produced RNAs, 27,28 thus changing the length or form of the virus, as well as with altered CPs presenting genetically encoded specic coupling groups such as primary amines or thiols. 29 In addition, we have recently achieved to produce VLPs with highly dened longitudinal domains.…”