Programming the Cellular Uptake of Protein-Based Viromimetic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Delivery.

Viral mimetics is a noteworthy strategy to design efficient delivery systems without the safety drawbacks and engineering difficulties of modifying viral vectors. The triblock polypeptide CSB was previously designed to self-assemble with DNA into nanocomplexes called artificial virus-like particles (AVLPs) due to their similarities to viral particles. Here, we show how we can incorporate new blocks into the CSB polypeptide to enhance its transfection without altering its self-assembly capabilities and the stability and morphology of the AVLPs.