title: Redox-active ferrocene-modified Cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles.
abstract: A naturally occurring nanoparticle, the plant virus Cowpea mosaic virus, can be decorated with ferrocene derivatives, of various linker lengths with amine and carboxylate groups, on the external surface using a range of conjugation strategies. The multiple, organometallic, redox-active ferrocene moieties on the outer surface of the virus are electrochemically independent with reduction potentials that span a potential window of 0.16 V that are dependent on the site of modification and the nature of the ferrocene derivative. The number of ferrocenes coupled to each virus ranges from about 100 to 240 depending upon the conjugation site and the linker length and these redox active units can provide multielectron reservoirs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
authors.forename: Alaa A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aljabali
authors.forename: J Elaine
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Julea N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Lomonossoff
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D017798:Comovirus / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000075163:Metallocenes; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D000075163:Metallocenes; C004998:ferrocene