title: Phage lambda capsids as tunable display nanoparticles.
abstract: Nanoparticle technologies provide a powerful tool for the development of reagents for use in both therapeutic and diagnostic, or "theragnostic" biomedical applications. Two broad classes of particles are under development, viral and synthetic systems, each with their respective strengths and limitations. Here we adapt the phage lambda system to construct modular "designer" nanoparticles that blend these two approaches. We have constructed a variety of modified "decoration" proteins that allow site-specific modification of the shell with both protein and nonproteinaceous ligands including small molecules, carbohydrates, and synthetic display ligands. We show that the chimeric proteins can be used to simultaneously decorate the shell in a tunable surface density to afford particles that are physically homogeneous and that can be manufactured to display a variety of ligands in a defined composition. These designer nanoparticles set the stage for development of lambda as a theragnostic nanoparticle system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Washington H-172, Health Sciences Building, Box 357610, Seattle, Washington 98195-7610, United States.
authors.forename: Jenny R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Eun-Ho
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakatani-Webster
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monkkonen
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ratner
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Catalano
mesh_terms: D010582:Bacteriophage lambda / Q000737:chemistry*; D002213:Capsid / Q000737:chemistry*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000821:virology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008024:Ligands; C406073:gpD protein, lambda phage