This book overviews the applications of viral nanoparticles (VNPs) in areas ranging from materials science to biomedicine. It summarizes the many different VNP building blocks and describes chemistries that allow one to attach, entrap, or display functionalities on VNPs. The book outlines the strategies for the construction of 1-, 2-, and 3-D arrays, highlights the achievements in utilizing VNPs as tools for novel biosensors and nanoelectronic devices, and describes efforts in designing VNPs for biomedical applications, including their use as gene delivery vectors, novel vaccines, imaging modalities, and applications in targeted therapeutics.

About the Author

Dr. Nicole F. Steinmetz is assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Steinmetz's major area of professional interest lies in the application of complex viral nanoparticle (VNP) formulations for biomedicine and materials science. As a postdoctoral fellow at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, her efforts have focused on the development of VNP formulations for cancer detection and treatment (2007-2010). During her dissertation work in the field of nanotechnology at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, she created multiple 3D VNP multilayered thin-film arrays for potential applications in sensors or nanoelectronics (2004-2007). Dr. Steinmetz is a 2009 recipient of the NIH/NIBIB Pathway to Independence Grant (K99/R00), a previous American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow, former Marie Curie EST Fellow, winner of the Bryan Harrison Prize (2006), and 2007 Biosciences Federation Science Communication Award winner. Her early training was at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, where she received her diploma (equivalent to masters) with honors in molecular biology in 2004.

Dr. Marianne Manchester specializes in novel virus-based nanotechnologies for tumor targeting and vaccine development. She has developed tissue-directed nanoparticles that show specificity for tumors in vivo and was the first to demonstrate the utility of viral nanoparticles as a tool for intravital vascular imaging. She has been instrumental in developing virus-based structural scaffolds for antigen presentation that demonstrate the positive effects of whole antigen display and antigen multivalency on protective immunity. Since 2002, she has led NIH-sponsored programs in tumor nanotechnology and multivalent nanotechnologies for vaccine development. She has also developed novel mass spectrometry-based approaches for identifying new therapeutic targets for human disease.

Reviews

"A contemporary, well-written and comprehensive book that captures the excitement and importance of discoveries at the chemistry-virology interface. The in-depth coverage provides an invaluable resource - a must read for both those coming new to this area of bionanoscience and those more familiar. The authors have done a fantastic job!"
-Prof. David J. Evans, John Innes Centre, UK

"An excellent and highly readable overview of virus-derived nanoparticles, which have found their way into many areas of science in the past decade. The book will be useful to introduce students and scientists to the field, as well as provide experienced practitioners historical perspectives and up-to-date information on the state of the art."
-Dr. M. G. Finn, The Scripps Research Institute, USA

"Well written and beautifully illustrated, this book is an outstanding guide and reference for researchers interested in applications of viruses in nanotechnology. It is directed at readers with different scientific backgrounds and covers aspects ranging from viral structure to production of viral particles, particle functionalization, and their use as templates for materials synthesis. The book will be a welcome addition to the scientific libraries of students and teachers alike."
-Dr. Anette Schneemann, The Scripps Research Institute, USA

Book Information
ISBN 9789814267458
Author Nicole F. Steinmetz
Format Hardback
Page Count 280
Imprint Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd
Publisher Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd
Weight(grams) 680g