Artificial Virus Nanoparticles

We developed artificial virus nanoparticles (AVNs) to track the infectious pathways of viruses through conventional optical methods. AVNs features a metal nanoparticle core, which is detected using scattering microscopy, and a lipid outer layer, which can be composed of any stable lipid membrane structure. Variation of the lipid composition during synthesis offers a unique opportunity to structure the lipid membrane for distinct purposes.

Ganglioside (GM3)-functionalized LPNs can be sequestrated in nonlysosomal compartments through GM3-CD169 binding and recapitulate key aspects of HIV-1 uptake and trafficking in macrophages. GM3-functionalized LPNs are assembled with polylactic acid (PLA) core and lipid membrane containing 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), cholesterol, and GM3, which captures all the main properties of HIV-1 membrane.