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US 9,751,913 B2Granted
Metamaterial optical elements self-assembled on protein scaffolds
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsBanahalli R. Ratna, Carissa M. Soto, Ronald W. Rendell, Jake Fontana, Jeffrey R. Deschamps
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Abstract
A genetically modified cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) protein capsid serves as a scaffold for metal nanoparticles, preferably gold nanospheres, of 15 nm to 35 nm, creating plasmonic nanoclusters. The self-assembled nanoclusters gave rise to a 10-fold surface-averaged enhancement of the local electromagnetic field. Other viral capsids or virus-like proteins may also serve as such scaffolds.
Claims8
A nanocluster comprising:
- a cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) protein capsid, the protein genetically modified to incorporate a plurality of cysteine residues providing thiol groups on an exterior surface of the capsid, and
- a plurality of metal nanoparticles with a size between 15 nm and 35 nm bound to the thiol groups.
A nanocluster comprising:
- a viral protein capsid comprising thiol groups suitable for binding metallic nanoparticles and
- a plurality of metal nanoparticles with a size between of 15 nm to 35 nm bound to the thiol groups.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.