title: Use of the interior cavity of the P22 capsid for site-specific initiation of atom-transfer radical polymerization with high-density cargo loading.
abstract: Virus-like particles (VLPs) have emerged as important and versatile architectures for chemical manipulation in the development of functional hybrid nanostructures. Here we demonstrate a successful site-selective initiation of atom-transfer radical polymerization reactions to form an addressable polymer constrained within the interior cavity of a VLP. Potentially, this protein-polymer hybrid of P22 and cross-linked poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) could be useful as a new high-density delivery vehicle for the encapsulation and delivery of small-molecule cargos. In particular, the encapsulated polymer can act as a scaffold for the attachment of small functional molecules, such as fluorescein dye or the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent Gd-diethylenetriaminepentacetate, through reactions with its pendant primary amine groups. Using this approach, a significant increase in the labelling density of the VLP, compared to that of previous modifications of VLPs, can be achieved. These results highlight the use of multimeric protein-polymer conjugates for their potential utility in the development of VLP-based MRI contrast agents with the possibility of loading other cargos.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lucon
authors.forename: Shefah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qazi
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bedwell
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: LaFrance
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Prevelige
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D017100:Bacteriophage P22 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000737:chemistry; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D058105:Polymerization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D011108:Polymers; D005682:Gadolinium; D019793:Fluorescein