Nanoparticle-Templated Assembly of Viral Protein Cages (original) (raw)

This study reports on the nanoparticle-templated assembly of viral protein cages, specifically focusing on the synthesis and application of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated gold nanoparticles (PEG-GNPs) as templates for assembling virus-like structures. The methods for synthesizing citrate-stabilized GNPs and subsequently exchanging the citrate with thiol ligands are detailed. Experimental results demonstrate that the use of PEG-GNPs significantly enhances the efficiency of viral protein assembly, as evidenced by comparative analysis with protein alone, which yielded fewer completed capsids. This approach highlights the potential of using engineered nanoparticles in the development of novel nanostructures and biomaterials.