Structural characterization of rotavirus-directed synthesis and assembly of metallic nanoparticle arrays.

Self-assembled structures derived of viral proteins display sophisticated structures that are difficult to obtain with even advanced synthesis methods and the use of protein nanotubes for synthesis and organization of inorganic nanoarrays into well-defined architectures are here reported. Nanoparticle arrays derived of rotavirus VP6 nanotubes were synthesized by in situ functionalization with silver and gold nanoparticles. The size and morphology of metal nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HR-TEM). Processing of micrographs to obtain fast Fourier transforms (FFT) patterns of nanoparticles shown that the preferred morphologies are fcc-like and multiple twinned ones. Micrographs were used to assign structure and orientation, and the elemental composition analysis was performed with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Structural characterization of functionalized rotavirus VP6 demonstrated its utility for directed construction of hybrid anisotropic nanomaterials formed by arrays of metallic nanoparticles.

Strategies for specifically directing metal functionalization of protein nanotubes: constructing protein coated silver nanowires.

Biological molecules that self-assemble in the nanoscale range are useful multifunctional materials. Rotavirus VP6 protein self-assembles into tubular structures in the absence of other rotavirus proteins. Here, we present strategies for selectively directing metal functionalization to the lumen of VP6 nanotubes. The specific in situ metal reduction in the inner surface of nanotube walls was achieved by the simple modification of a method previously reported to functionalize the nanotube outer surface. Silver nanorods and nanowires as long as 1.5 µm were formed inside the nanotubes by coalescence of nanoparticles. Such one-dimensional structures were longer than others previously obtained using bioscaffolds. The interactions between silver ions and the nanotube were simulated to understand the conditions that allowed nanowire formation. Molecular docking showed that a naturally occurring arrangement of aspartate residues enabled the stabilization of silver ions on the internal surface of the VP6 nanotubes. This is the first time that such a spatial arrangement has been proposed for the nucleation of silver nanoparticles, opening the possibility of using such an array to direct functionalization of other biomolecules. These results demonstrate the natural capabilities of VP6 nanotubes to function as a versatile biotemplate for nanomaterials.