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Updated: Sep 27, 2025
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Microfluidic Pneumatic Cages: A Novel Approach for In-chip Crystal Trapping, Manipulation and Controlled Chemical Treatment
Published on: July 12, 2016
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Protein Cages: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications
Thomas G W Edwardson1, Mikail D Levasseur1, Stephan Tetter1
1Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Chemical Reviews
|April 8, 2022
Summary
Protein cages, like viral capsids, are versatile molecular containers. Protein engineering enables their use in medicine, materials science, and catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Proteins self-assembling into polyhedral structures serve as natural molecular containers.
- Diverse protein cages, including viral capsids and ferritins, exist in nature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the repurposing of protein cages for various applications.
- To highlight the role of protein engineering in tailoring cage functions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on protein cage applications.
- Analysis of protein engineering and directed evolution strategies.
- Exploration of natural protein cage systems (viral capsids, ferritins, bacterial microcompartments).
Main Results:
- Protein cages are repurposed as vaccines, drug delivery vehicles, and targeted imaging agents.
- Applications include nanoreactors, templates for materials synthesis, and building blocks for complex architectures.
- Protein engineering allows for selective cargo encapsulation and controlled interactions.
Conclusions:
- Understanding natural protein cage principles is crucial for design.
- Adaptable capsid structures offer significant potential in catalysis, materials science, and medicine.
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