Phage Lambda Capsids as
Tunable Display Nanoparticles
- Publication date
- Publisher
Abstract
Nanoparticle technologies provide
a powerful tool for the development
of reagents for use in both therapeutic and diagnostic, or “theragnostic”
biomedical applications. Two broad classes of particles are under
development, viral and synthetic systems, each with their respective
strengths and limitations. Here we adapt the phage lambda system to
construct modular “designer” nanoparticles that blend
these two approaches. We have constructed a variety of modified “decoration”
proteins that allow site-specific modification of the shell with both
protein and nonproteinaceous ligands including small molecules, carbohydrates,
and synthetic display ligands. We show that the chimeric proteins
can be used to simultaneously decorate the shell in a tunable surface
density to afford particles that are physically homogeneous and that
can be manufactured to display a variety of ligands in a defined composition.
These designer nanoparticles set the stage for development of lambda
as a theragnostic nanoparticle system