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5.2.2 Encapsulaing Enzymes
Besides encapsulating small chemical or synthetic nanoparticles, the
encapsulation of biologically active enzymes into VLPs has also been
demonstrated. Coat proteins of CCMV were mixed with the enzyme
horseradish peroxidase (HRP), where the conditions were chosen to result
in one or zero HRP molecules per assembled VLP. Enzymatic activity was
retained (Comellas-Aragones
., 2007). The enzyme-containing VLPs can
be utilized to gain insights into how enzymes work. In biological systems,
enzymes are present in confined chemical microenvironments, and one might
argue that the enzyme contained within the VLP is thus a good mimic of a
particular environment. In addition, studies can be conducted on a single-
molecule level.
et al
. ConCluSIonS
In conclusion, the coat proteins of VNPs can be regarded as remarkably
flexible, tunable, and programmable building blocks. Cargo can be entrapped
using different strategies, the coat proteins itself can be chemically modified
via bioconjugation, and the particles can be self-assembled into different but
distinct sizes and shapes. To date, there is no comparable synthetic material
that allows this degree of flexibility, underscoring the potential of VNPs for
a variety of applications that rely on precise self-assembly.
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