2021/07/23 by Nicholas E. Brunk, Reidun Twarock · 3 citations
Environmental Science · Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · Chemistry · Neuroscience · #Bacteriophages and microbial interactions #Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Percolation (cognitive psychology) #Percolation theory #Materials science #Nanotechnology #Chemistry #Conductivity #Biology #Neuroscience #Physical chemistry
paper · pdf · doi:10.1021/acsnano.1c01882
openalex publication_date 2021/07/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The viral protein containers that encapsulate a virus' genetic material are repurposed as virus-like particles in a host of nanotechnology applications, including cargo delivery, storage, catalysis, and vaccination. These viral architectures have evolved to sit on the knife's edge between stability, to provide adequate protection for their genetic cargoes, and instability, to enable their efficient and timely release in the host cell environment upon environmental cues. By introducing a percolation theory for viral capsids, we demonstrate that the geometric characteristics of a viral capsid in terms of its subunit layout and intersubunit interaction network are key for its disassembly behavior. A comparative analysis of all alternative homogeneously tiled capsid structures of the same stoichiometry identifies evolutionary drivers favoring specific viral geometries in nature and offers a guide for virus-like particle design in nanotechnology.