Relative size selection of a conjugated polyelectrolyte in virus-like protein structures

A conjugated polyelectrolyte poly[(2-methoxy-5-propyloxy sulfonate)-phenyl-ene vinylene] (MPS-PPV) drives the assembly of virus capsid proteins to form single virus-like particles (VLPs) and aggregates with more than two VLPs, with a relative selection of high molecular weight polymer in the latter

Synthesis, characterization and in vitro toxicity of paramagnetic Au nanorods

Coated Au nanorods are widely known for their absorption in the near infrared1, making them excellent candidates for near infrared imaging and photo thermal therapy2. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that these nanomaterials are excellent candidates for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) since they can be used as T1 contrast agents when functionalized with Gd3+-containing moieties and as multimodal agents for MR-CT3 and MR-plasmonic4 imaging. In this context, our aim is to explore the possible incorporation of Gd3+ complexes to these nanosystems in order to use them as T1 contrast agents for MRI and, in a more advanced stage, as multimodal imaging agents. Here we describe the synthesis, characterization, properties and in vitro toxicity of paramagnetic nanorods coated, in one step, with combinations of thiol functionalized Gd3+ complexes of a 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-tris(acetic acid) (DO3A)-based ligand and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Preliminary results show that these paramagnetic Au nanorods are biocompatible, show T1 contrast at low Gd3+ concentrations and are envisioned to become excellent candidates for multimodal purposes

Polymers and block copolymers of isocyanopeptides : towards higher structural order in macromolecular systems

Contains fulltext : 19054_polyanblc.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)146 p

Combining Protein Cages and Polymers: from Understanding Self-Assembly to Functional Materials

Protein cages, such as viruses, are well-defined biological nanostructures which are highly symmetrical and monodisperse. They are found in various shapes and sizes and can encapsulate or template non-native materials. Furthermore, the proteins can be chemically or genetically modified giving them new properties. For these reasons, these protein structures have received increasing attention in the field of polymer–protein hybrid materials over the past years, however, advances are still to be made. This Viewpoint highlights the different ways polymers and protein cages or their subunits have been combined to understand self-assembly and create functional materials

Recombinant expression and purification of 'virus-like' bacterial encapsulin protein cages

Ultracentrifugation, particularly the use of sucrose or cesium chloride density gradients, is a highly reliable and efficient technique for the purification of virus-like particles and protein cages. Since virus-like particles and protein cages have a unique size compared to cellular macromolecules and organelles, the rate of migration can be used as a tool for purification. Here we describe a detailed protocol for the purification of recently discovered virus-like assemblies called bacterial encapsulins from Thermotoga maritima and Brevibacterium linens