Characterization and application of self-assembled virus-like particles with magnetic cores

PHYS 458

Xinlei Huang, xinhuang@indiana.edu1, Lyudmila M. Bronstein, lybronst@indiana.edu1, John R. Retrum, jrretrum@indiana.edu1, Hu Cheng, hucheng@indiana.edu2, Lia Stanciu, lastanciu@yahoo.com3, Chris Dufort1, Irina Tsvetkova, itsvetko@indiana.edu1, Stella E. Aniagyei, saniagye@indiana.edu1, Barry D. Stein4, Galen D. Stucky, stucky@chem.ucsb.edu5, Nicholas B. Remmes6, and Bogdan Dragnea, dragnea@indiana.edu1. (1) Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Av, Bloomington, IN 47405, (2) Indiana University, Department of Physological and Brain Science, (3) Purdue University, (4) Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 East 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47405, (5) Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, (6) Department of Physics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405
The study of the self-assembly of virus like particles (VLPs) composed of an icosahedral brome mosaic virus (BMV) protein capsid and a functional spherical nanoparticle (NP) core has been applied to various kinds of NPs. In our previous work, 20.1 nm of spherical iron oxide NPs with narrow size distribution (~5%) have been synthesized, functionalized and encapsulated into BMV capsids. The superparamagnetic properties of the iron oxide NP cores have been measured. Well-defined spherical VLPs with a uniform size of 41.3 nm (± 2.1%) were obtained. Compared with the 28 nm gold VLPs which is corresponding to the T=3 icosahedral symmetry this magnetic VLPs indicate a capsid structure with more subunits and higher T symmetry. To clarify this novel structure cryo-EM and 3D structure reconstruction of the magnetic VLPs are undergoing. Due to the high relaxivity of iron oxide particles, the innate biocompatibility of virus capsids, and the possibility of further engineering of capsid surface sites, superparamagnetic VLPs are potentially suitable as specific MRI contrast agents for plant studies, especially in relation with systemic virus movement and for better understanding of the interaction between plant systems used in the production of biopharmaceuticals with recombinant viruses.
 

PHYS Poster Session - Nanostructured Materials and Nanophotonics
7:30 PM-10:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Physical Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008