Structural characterization of rotavirus-directed synthesis and assembly of metallic nanoparticle arrays

Self-assembled structures derived of viral proteins display sophisticated structures that are difficult to obtain with even advanced synthesis methods and the use of protein nanotubes for synthesis and organization of inorganic nanoarrays into well-defined architectures are here reported. Nanoparticle arrays derived of rotavirus VP6 nanotubes were synthesized by in situ functionalization with silver and gold nanoparticles. The size and morphology of metal nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HR-TEM). Processing of micrographs to obtain fast Fourier transforms (FFT) patterns of nanoparticles shown that the preferred morphologies are fcc-like and multiple twinned ones. Micrographs were used to assign structure and orientation, and the elemental composition analysis was performed with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Structural characterization of functionalized rotavirus VP6 demonstrated its utility for directed construction of hybrid anisotropic nanomaterials formed by arrays of metallic nanoparticles.