Agency for Science, Technology and Research

Nanyang Technological University

Nikodem Tomczak

Ming-Yong Han

Sierin Lim

Dominik Janczewski

Paul Free

Tao Peng

David Paramelle

G Julius Vancso

The invention relates to a method to encapsulate nanoparticles into a protein cage by inserting the nanoparticles into the core through holes. Currently commercially available nanoparticles can be functionalized using the inventive method. The inventive hybrids have applications in biosensing and bioimaging. The use of an affinity between poly-histidine chains and nitrilotriacetic acid as chelating reagent to obtain the inventive cages and hybrid assemblies by the method according to the invention is shown in FIG.

Specific internalization of nanoparticles into protein cages

An amphiphilic polymer (A) comprising repeat units of the general formulae (I), (II) and (III): or salts thereof, wherein Ris H or methyl, Ris an aliphatic moiety with a main chain of 3 to 30 carbon atoms and 0 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group N, O, S, Se and Si, and Ris one of (i) an alicyclic moiety with a main chain of 5 to 80 carbon atoms and 0 to 30 heteroatoms (ii) a moiety &#x2014;Z&#x2014;Rwherein Ris an alicyclic moiety with a main chain of 5 to 80 carbon atoms and 0 to 30 heteroatoms and Z is an aliphatic bridge of 1 to 3 carbon atoms and 0 to 2 heteroatoms, (iii) an aliphatic moiety with a main chain of 3 to 80 carbon atoms and 0 to about 30, and a C&#x2261;C group or an azido group.

Amphiphilic polymers and nanocrystals coated therewith

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Nikodem Tomczak