title: Efficient encapsulation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles into genetically engineered hepatitis B core virus-like particles through a specific interaction for potential bioapplications.
abstract: Self-assembly of viral coating proteins encapsulating functional nanoparticles provides a new class of biomaterials with robust chemical and physical properties for potential applications in functional imaging, and therapeutic or diagnostic agent delivery. Herein, a straightforward method is demonstrated for efficient encapsidation of magnetic nanoparticles into the engineered virus-like particle (VLP) through the affinity of histidine tags for the nickel- nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) chelate. Monodispersed, uniformly sized, magnetic core-containing VLPs are obtained at high efficiency (>85%) and used as the cellular T2 contrast agents for MR imaging applications thanks to their biocompatibility, higher cellular uptake, as well as higher r2 values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, College of Materials, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yixiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Xuebin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Shengli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006639:Histidine / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008280:Magnetics; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D014780:Viruses / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D006639:Histidine
keywords: Fe3O4; MRI; bioapplications; cellular uptake; encapsulation; nanoparticles; viruses