Bacteriophage nanofiber fabrication using near field electrospinning

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• M13 bacteriophage is a rod-shaped virus with unique properties suitable for material fabrication.
• Electrospinning is a versatile technique for producing nanofibers and microfibers.
• Controlling the assembly and properties of biological materials at the nanoscale is crucial for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate nano- and microfibers from M13 bacteriophage using electrospinning.
• To investigate the potential of these phage fibers as electrostatic-stimulus responsive actuators.
• To explore the utility of near-field electrospinning for precise patterning of phage fibers.

Main Methods:

• Liquid crystalline suspensions of M13 bacteriophage were prepared.
• Near-field electrospinning was employed to fabricate phage nano- and microfibers.
• The electrostatic-stimulus responsiveness of the fabricated phage fibers was tested.

Main Results:

• Nano- and microscale pure phage fibers were successfully fabricated from liquid crystalline phage suspensions.
• Near-field electrospinning allowed for tunable direction and spacing of the phage fiber patterns.
• The resulting phage fibers demonstrated functionality as electrostatic-stimulus responsive actuators.

Conclusions:

• M13 bacteriophage can be effectively fabricated into nano- and microfibers with tunable properties.
• Near-field electrospinning is a powerful tool for precise patterning of biological materials.
• Phage-based fibers show promise for applications in sensors, regenerative medicine, and energy harvesting.