Precision engineering enables design of virus-like particles that can deliver genetic material into cells

Scientists from NPL, working in collaboration with AI experts from IBM and the Science and Technology facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Center, are applying the principles of precision engineering of biological systems to enable the design of artificial virus-like particles capable of encapsulating genes.

Such particles, known as virions, can be used to deliver desired genetic material into cells with broad ranging applications including gene therapy and engineering biology.

The approach uses naturally occurring amino acids – the building blocks of proteins. Specifically, the virions are formed from (L-amino acids) assembling alternately with their mirror reflections, known as D-amino acids, which assemble to create virus-like shells which can be designed to enclose nucleic acids of different sizes.

The work will have a wide range of applications but is currently being exploited most notably in applications such as personalized medicine and gene therapy. Alternative synthetic virion shells have also been shown to have antimicrobial activity, providing the potential for development of a new class of antibiotic alternatives.

Zdroj obrázku: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain.