title: Genetically engineered liquid-crystalline viral films for directing neural cell growth.
abstract: Designing biomimetic matrices with precisely controlled structural organization that provides biochemical and physical cues to regulate cell behavior is critical for the development of tissue-regenerating materials. We have developed novel liquid-crystalline film matrices made from genetically engineered M13 bacteriophages (viruses) that exhibit the ability to control and guide cell behavior for tissue-regenerating applications. To facilitate adhesion between the viruses and cells, 2700 copies of the M13 major coat protein were genetically engineered to display integrin-binding peptides (RGD). The resulting nanofiber-like viruses displaying RGD motifs were biocompatible with neuronal cells and could be self-assembled to form long-range-ordered liquid-crystalline matrices by a simple shearing method. The resulting aligned structures were able to dictate the direction of cell growth. Future use of these virus-based materials for regenerating target tissues in vivo would provide great opportunities for various tissue therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Woo-Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merzlyak
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seung-Wuk
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017104:Bacteriophage M13 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D032701:Biomimetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; C047981:arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid