Self-assembled artificial virus

   June 2/9, 2008
An artificial virus "infects" diseased cells with drugs or therapeutic genetic material.

 The artificial virus self-assembles from a nanoribbon to form a double-layered protein sheet that sports short strands of RNA. The artificial virus inserts RNA into human cancer cells in test tubes. Once inside, the RNA interferes with the cells' malfunctioning DNA.

Research paper:
Filamentous Artificial Virus from a Self-Assembled Discrete Nanoribbon
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, published online May 7, 2008

Researcher's homepage:
Myongsoo Lee

Related stories and briefs:
RNA forms nanomotor (RNA assembly delivers genes into cells)
RNA nanotech takes on cancer (combinations of RNA molecules that target and attack cancer cells)

Further info:
How It Works -- Self-assembly: the natural way to make things

Back to TRN June 2/9, 2008

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