Nanotechnology & Nanorobotics
We are engineering natural protein nanocages for developing drug delivery systems and creating biocompatible nanorobots (nanobots) to perform autonomous functions.
We mimicked HIV-1 gag polypeptide precursors and created precursors of nanocages. Two ferritin subunits are linked with a fusion peptide encompassing the cleavage sequence for a site-specific protease such as enterokinase. These precursors can be efficiently overexpressed in bacterial systems and subsequently purified using affinity chromatographic methods. Upon the addition of enterokinase, the subunits are released, and ferritin-like nanocages are formed.
These precursors provide a versatile platform to decorate the nanocage's surface with therapeutic or targeting proteins/peptides and simultaneously encapsulate various hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs.
​
Our group has filed a patent application for application this technology and we are currently working on developing multifunctional antiviral nanobots. This project is supported by an MRC Gap Fund. We apply a multidisciplinary approach. Our main collaborators are Prof Maria Andrea Mroginski (TU Berlin), Prof William James (University of Oxford), and Prof Mark Sutton (UKHSA).​​​​​
​
Yujie Sheng
PhD student
Elçin Su KaravelioÄŸlu
M.Sc. student
