Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, CDT250, Miri, Sarawak, 98009, Malaysia
  • 2 Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Bharath University, Department of Nanotechnology, Research Park, 173 Agharam Road, Selaiyur, Chennai, 600073, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address: kaushikphysics@gmail.com
  • 3 Chemical Engineering Department, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN, 37403, United States
Biochimie, 2019 Feb;157:38-47.
PMID: 30408502 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2018.11.001

Abstract

Viruses are considered as natural nanomaterials as they are in the size range of 20-500 nm with a genetical material either DNA or RNA, which is surrounded by a protein coat capsid. Recently, the field of virus nanotechnology is gaining significant attention from researchers. Attention is given to the utilization of viruses as nanomaterials for medical, biotechnology and energy applications. Removal of genetic material from the viral capsid creates empty capsid for drug incorporation and coating the capsid protein crystals with antibodies, enzymes or aptamers will enhance their targeted drug deliver efficiency. Studies reported that these virus-like nanoparticles have been used in delivering drugs for cancer. It is also used in imaging and sensory applications for various diseases. However, there is reservation among researchers to utilize virus-like nanoparticles in targeted delivery of genes in gene therapy, as there is a possibility of using virus-like nanoparticles for targeted gene delivery. In addition, other biomedical applications that are explored using virus-like nanoparticles and the probable mechanism of delivering genes.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.