Recent experimental advances in probing the colloidal properties of viruses

Armanious, Antonius; Radiom, Milad; Mezzenga, Raffaele

doi:10.1016/j.cocis.2023.101703

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…VLPs are potentially interesting scaffolds for the oral or intranasal delivery of biomolecules, requiring stability in pH-varying environments and in the presence of high concentrations of proteases. ,, Therefore, increasing the colloidal and enzymatic stability in the complex mucosal environment is of high translational relevance.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,11 As carriers, VLPs must endure environmental challenges and it is likely that their material properties are an important factor determining their fate. 12 General key considerations for "delivery-capable" VLPs include size, colloidal stability, target specificity, and responsiveness to stimuli for cargo release. For mucosal applications, VLPs are faced with mucosal-specific physiological challenges including a thick and adhesive mucus gel, mucus clearance from the site of delivery (e.g., via mucociliary clearance in respiratory epithelia or peristalsis and fecal stream in intestinal epithelium), high concentrations of proteases and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibodies and intermittent mechanical agitation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As carriers, VLPs must endure environmental challenges and it is likely that their material properties are an important factor determining their fate . General key considerations for “delivery-capable” VLPs include size, colloidal stability, target specificity, and responsiveness to stimuli for cargo release.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface Cross-Linking by Macromolecular Tethers Enhances Virus-like Particles’ Resilience to Mucosal Stress Factors

Ali,

Ganguillet,

Turgay

et al. 2024

ACS Nano

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Virus-like particles (VLPs) are emerging as nanoscaffolds in a variety of biomedical applications including delivery of vaccine antigens and cargo such as mRNA to mucosal surfaces. These soft, colloidal, and proteinaceous structures (capsids) are nevertheless susceptible to mucosal environmental stress factors. We cross-linked multiple capsid surface amino acid residues using homobifunctional polyethylene glycol tethers to improve the persistence and survival of the capsid to model mucosal stressors. Surface cross-linking enhanced the stability of VLPs assembled from Acinetobacter phage AP205 coat proteins in low pH (down to pH 4.0) and high protease concentration conditions (namely, in pig and mouse gastric fluids). Additionally, it increased the stiffness of VLPs under local mechanical indentation applied using an atomic force microscopy cantilever tip. Small angle X-ray scattering revealed an increase in capsid diameter after cross-linking and an increase in capsid shell thickness with the length of the PEG cross-linkers. Moreover, surface cross-linking had no effect on the VLPs' mucus translocation and accumulation on the epithelium of in vitro 3D human nasal epithelial tissues with mucociliary clearance. Finally, it did not compromise VLPs' function as vaccines in mouse subcutaneous vaccination models. Compared to PEGylation without cross-linking, the stiffness of surface cross-linked VLPs were higher for the same length of the PEG molecule, and also the lifetimes of surface crosslinked VLPs were longer in the gastric fluids. Surface cross-linking using macromolecular tethers, but not simple conjugation of these molecules, thus offers a viable means to enhance the resilience and survival of VLPs for mucosal applications.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Surface Cross-Linking by Macromolecular Tethers Enhances Virus-like Particles’ Resilience to Mucosal Stress Factors

Ali,

Ganguillet,

Turgay

et al. 2024

ACS Nano

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An Update on Theoretical and Metrological Aspects of the Surface Hydrophobicity of Virus and Virus‐Like Particles

Sautrey

2024

Advanced Biology

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Viruses are biological entities embodied in protein‐based nanoparticles devoid of metabolic activity. Hence, the colloidal, interfacial, and chemical reactivity of virus particles (VPs) profoundly affects the fate of natural and artificial viruses in biotic or abiotic aqueous systems. These rely on the physical chemistry at the outer surface of VPs. In other words, whether wild or synthetic VPs and regardless of the scientific fields involved, taming viruses implies thus managing the physical chemistry at the VP external surface. The surface hydrophobicity (SH) of VPs is a critical feature that must be looked at. Still, the literature dealing with nanoscale hydrophobic domains at the proteinaceous surface of VPs underlying their global SH is like a fragmented puzzle. This article provides an overview of the topic from the perspective of modern protein biophysics for updating the classic physicochemical picture of outer VP/water interfaces hitherto accepted. Patterns of non‐polar and “false‐polar” patches, expressing variable hydrophobic degrees according to neighboring polar patches, are now drawn. The extensive discussion of reviewed data generates such fresh ideas to explore in the coming years for better modeling the SH of wild virions or engineered virus‐based nanoparticles, paving the way for new directions in fundamental virology and virus‐based chemistry.

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Decoding Biomechanical Cues Based on DNA Sensors

Huang,

Chen,

Chen

et al. 2024

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Biological systems perceive and respond to mechanical forces, generating mechanical cues to regulate life processes. Analyzing biomechanical forces has profound significance for understanding biological functions. Therefore, a series of molecular mechanical techniques have been developed, mainly including single‐molecule force spectroscopy, traction force microscopy, and molecular tension sensor systems, which provide indispensable tools for advancing the field of mechanobiology. DNA molecules with a programmable structure and well‐defined mechanical characteristics have attached much attention to molecular tension sensors as sensing elements, and are designed for the study of biomechanical forces to present biomechanical information with high sensitivity and resolution. In this work, a comprehensive overview of molecular mechanical technology is presented, with a particular focus on molecular tension sensor systems, specifically those based on DNA. Finally, the future development and challenges of DNA‐based molecular tension sensor systems are looked upon.

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Recent experimental advances in probing the colloidal properties of viruses

Cited by 8 publications

References 69 publications

Surface Cross-Linking by Macromolecular Tethers Enhances Virus-like Particles’ Resilience to Mucosal Stress Factors

Surface Cross-Linking by Macromolecular Tethers Enhances Virus-like Particles’ Resilience to Mucosal Stress Factors

An Update on Theoretical and Metrological Aspects of the Surface Hydrophobicity of Virus and Virus‐Like Particles

Decoding Biomechanical Cues Based on DNA Sensors

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