Spontaneous assembly of viruses on multilayered polymer surfaces.
The idea that randomly arranged supermolecular species incorporated in a network medium can ultimately create ordered structures at the surface may be counterintuitive. However, such order can be accommodated by regulating dynamic and equilibrium driving forces. Here, we present the ordering of M13 viruses, highly complex biomacromolecules, driven by competitive electrostatic binding, preferential macromolecular interactions and the rigid-rod nature of the virus systems during alternating electrostatic assembly. The steric constraints inherent to the competitive charge binding between M13 viruses and two oppositely charged weak polyelectrolytes leads to interdiffusion and the virtual 'floating' of viruses to the surface. The result is the spontaneous formation of a two-dimensional monolayer structure of viruses atop a cohesive polyelectrolyte multilayer. We demonstrate that this viral-assembled monolayer can be a biologically tunable scaffold to nucleate, grow and align nanoparticles or nanowires over multiple length scales. This system represents an interface that provides a general platform for the systematic incorporation and assembly of organic, biological and inorganic materials.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Pil J
PJ
Yoo
Ki Tae
KT
Nam
Jifa
J
Qi
Soo-Kwan
SK
Lee
Juhyun
J
Park
Angela M
AM
Belcher
Paula T
PT
Hammond
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D017104:Bacteriophage M13 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D055672:Static Electricity; D013499:Surface Properties; D019065:Virus Assembly
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C006903:carbopol 940; D011094:Polyethyleneimine