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U.S. Department of Energy
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Self-Assembly of Virus Particle Based Materials for Hydrogen Catalysis

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1722913· OSTI ID:1722913
 [1];  [2]
  1. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States); Indiana University
  2. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
Viruses are sophisticated protein-based containers and their self-assembly from a small number of subunits into symmetrical, monodisperse architectures has inspired the work performed under this award. We have taken advantage of the robust self-assembly of the bacteriophage P22 for the encapsulation of enzymatic cargo materials and studied their activity in energy harvesting systems. The large internal cavity of the P22 is ideal for high-capacity loading of enzymes resulting in very high local catalyst concentrations. We have exploited the self-assembly properties of the bacteriophage P22 system for the packaging of a number of different enzymes, including a [NiFe] hydrogenase as well as enzymes capable of butanol biosynthesis, to create active and stable individual “nano-reactors”. Individual viral capsid-based nanoreactors are also ideal building blocks for the construction of higher order assemblies. We have demonstrated the construction of ordered 3-D arrays from active nanoparticle building blocks to form materials with collective behavior and properties beyond those of the individual particles and capable of catalyzing multi-step reactions. The successful implementation of the work performed under this DOE grant provides us with a great deal of knowledge about directed self-assembly at multiple lengthscales for the development of bioinspired catalytic materials for energy harvesting.
Research Organization:
Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division
DOE Contract Number:
SC0016155
OSTI ID:
1722913
Report Number(s):
DOE-Indiana--0016155
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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