Bioinspired synthesis of virus-like particle-templated thin silica-layered nanocages with enhanced biocompatibility and cellular uptake as drug delivery carriers.

The bioinspired synthesis of virus-like silica nanoparticles in biomedical applications makes it possible to utilize the cellular delivery capabilities of viruses while minimizing the cytotoxicity of inorganic silica. In this study, we developed a diatom-inspired method for synthesizing silica-layered nanocages utilizing R5 peptide-functionalized virus-like particles (VLPs). R5 peptides were genetically inserted into the F-G loop of human papillomavirus 16 L1 proteins (HPV16 L1-R5).

Genetically engineered bacteriophages as novel nanomaterials: applications beyond antimicrobial agents.

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that replicate in bacteria and archaea. Phages were initially discovered as antimicrobial agents, and they have been used as therapeutic agents for bacterial infection in a process known as "phage therapy." Recently, phages have been investigated as functional nanomaterials in a variety of areas, as they can function not only as therapeutic agents but also as biosensors and tissue regenerative materials.

Virus-like nanoparticles as a theranostic platform for cancer.

Virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs) are natural polymer-based nanomaterials that mimic viral structures through the hierarchical assembly of viral coat proteins, while lacking viral genomes. VLPs have received enormous attention in a wide range of nanotechnology-based medical diagnostics and therapies, including cancer therapy, imaging, and theranostics. VLPs are biocompatible and biodegradable and have a uniform structure and controllable assembly.

A colorimetric lateral flow immunoassay based on oriented antibody immobilization for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The high human-to-human transmission and rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 have resulted in a worldwide pandemic. To contain SARS-CoV-2, it is essential to efficiently control the transmission of the virus through the early diagnosis of infected individuals, including asymptomatic people.

Bone Graft Biomineral Complex Coderived from Marine Biocalcification and Biosilicification.

Bone graft materials have been mainly developed based on inorganic materials, including calcium phosphate. However, these graft materials usually act as osteoconductive rather than osteoinductive scaffolds. To improve bone reconstruction, a combination of several materials has been proposed.

Glycan chip based on structure-switchable DNA linker for on-chip biosynthesis of cancer-associated complex glycans.

On-chip glycan biosynthesis is an effective strategy for preparing useful complex glycan sources and for preparing glycan-involved applications simultaneously. However, current methods have some limitations when analyzing biosynthesized glycans and optimizing enzymatic reactions, which could result in undefined glycan structures on a surface, leading to unequal and unreliable results. In this work, a glycan chip is developed by introducing a pH-responsive i-motif DNA linker to control the immobilization and isolation of glycans on chip surfaces in a pH-dependent manner.

On-chip biosynthesis of GM1 pentasaccharide-related complex glycans.

A functional glycan chip combined with on-chip enzymatic glycosylation was developed to prepare complex glycan sources and to apply glycan-involved applications simultaneously. GM3 trisaccharide, GM2 tetrasaccharide, and GM1 pentasaccharide were successfully directly biosynthesized on lactose-immobilized surfaces through three consecutive glycosyltransferase reactions along with small amounts of enzymes and donors, without any additional processes. Biosynthesized GM1 pentasaccharide-related complex glycans were demonstrated to provide information on the substrate specificity of whole cholera toxin.