Virion-constrained nanoparticles comprising a plant virion coat protein shell and encapsulated guest molecules
AssigneeThe Research and Development Institute, Inc.
InventorsTrevor Douglas, Mark J. Young
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Abstract
A virion-constrained nanoparticle of the invention comprises a shell of a virion coat protein(s) that encapsulates a core non-viral material, which is organic, inorganic or organometallic in nature. A particularly preferred virion coat is that of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV). Encapsulation of a desired particle is effected by adjusting reaction conditions, e.g., by lowering the pH of a solution containing the virion protein and the non-viral substance. Processes for producing the virion-constrained nanoparticles of the invention are also described.
Claims15
A virion-constrained nanoparticle comprising a plant virion coat protein shell surrounding a nanopartice of non-viral origin selected from the group consisting of organic, inorganic and organo-metallic materials.
A process for producing virion-constrained nanoparticles comprising a plant virion coat protein shell surrounding a nanopaxticle of non-viral origin comprising the following steps:
- a) providing isolated and substantially purified plant virion coat protein shells containing controllable gates;
- b) incubating the virion coat protein shell in a solution comprising one or more organic, inorganic, and/or organo-metallic materials under conditions that permit controlled entry of the materials into the virion shell;
- c) adjusting the solution conditions in such a manner that the virion coat protein shell entraps the materials of step b);
- and
- d) isolating the virion-constrained nanoparticles produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.