Fluorinated Artificial Viral Capsids for Cell Membrane Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial viral capsids lack sufficient cell membrane permeability, limiting their effectiveness as drug delivery carriers.
Innovation Solution
Modify the β-annulus peptide of tomato bushy stunt virus with a fluorine-containing compound, specifically a fluoropeptide, linked through a divalent linking group to the C-terminus, enhancing cell membrane permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If artificial viral capsids are created by self-assembly of β-annulus peptides, then they can encapsulate various substances and form spherical nanocapsules, but they lack sufficient cell membrane permeability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the capsid surface by incorporating fluorine-containing amino acid residues (such as fluorinated phenylalanine, tyrosine, or tryptophan) into the β-annulus peptide sequence. This parameter change modifies the surface properties of the artificial viral capsid, enabling it to interact with and penetrate cell membranes effectively while maintaining its encapsulation capability for drug delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by combining the β-annulus peptide framework with fluorine-containing functional groups. The resulting hybrid material possesses both the structural integrity of the original peptide-based capsid and the membrane-penetrating properties of fluorinated compounds, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and cell membrane permeability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified artificial viral capsid exhibits improved cell membrane permeability, making it suitable for use as a pharmaceutical carrier for delivering physiologically active substances.
Implementation Method 1
β-annulus peptides spontaneously self-assemble in water to form spherical, hollow nanocapsules
Implementation Method 2
compounds having a polyfluoro structure are known to be stable and low in toxicity in vivo, and to be excellent in uptake into cells
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an artificial viral capsid modified with a compound containing a fluorine atom. The artificial viral capsid is formed by self-assembly of multiple subunits, wherein the subunit comprises a β-annulus peptide of tomato bushy stunt virus, a group derived from a fluorine-containing compound, and a divalent linking group that links the β-annulus peptide to the group derived from a fluorine-containing compound; and the divalent linking group is linked to a C-terminus of the β-annulus peptide.