Setting Boundaries: Surface Engineering of Viral-Inspired Materials

Viral-inspired materials (VIMs) integrate the nanoscale precision of viral architecture with the versatility of synthetic modification, enabling interfaces that bridge biological and technological systems. This review outlines how surface engineering governs the structure-function relationship of VIMs, highlighting six core design strategies: natural viral surface utilization, genetic and chemical decoration, hybrid composite formation, geometric and dimensional control, stimuli-responsive materials, and hierarchical assembly. These approaches expand the material and functional diversity of viral scaffolds across biomedical, catalytic, and electronic applications. Emerging trends include developing unconventional protein architectures, de novo protein design, and hybrid material creation. Together, these developments position VIMs as powerful platforms for dynamic, programmable, and multifunctional materials that integrate biological precision and synthetic design.