Nanowires and Nanoparticle Chains Inside Tubular Viral Templates

One-dimensional (1D) inorganic nanomaterials, especially with magnetic and optical properties, are key components in material synthesis for applications in nanoelectronics, catalysis, and sensing. To achieve these objectives, tubular viral templates are emerging as natural anisotropic bioreactors for the control of the synthesis of inorganic materials with spatial confinement. In particular, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) with a longitudinal cylinder shape provides a defined narrow cavity to direct the controllable synthesis of 1D inorganic nanomaterial. Based on the understanding of biological characteristics of viral capsids, we can introduce genetic modifications to tailor the arrangement of functional motifs for specific electroless deposition. Here we present an overview of methods for the utilization of the TMV-derived interior surface to realize spatially selective chemisorption, nucleation, and growth of nanocrystals into nanowires and nanoparticle chains.