Self-assembled artificial viral capsid decorated with gold nanoparticles

Abstract

The decoration of a peptide-based artificial viral capsid with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is reported. β-Annulus GGGCG-bearing peptide as a binding site of AuNPs self-assembled into nanocapsules with a diameter of 50 nm. The addition of AuNPs to the peptide nanocapsules afforded relatively uncontrolled assemblies of AuNPs. In contrast, the self-assembly of AuNP-peptide conjugates afforded, after dialysis, controlled assemblies of AuNPs with sizes of 30-60 nm. ζ-Potential measurements revealed that the surface of the artificial viral capsid self-assembled from β-annulus peptide was coated with AuNPs.