International group of researchers under the leadership of Professor Sangmin Lee developed artificial viral capsules using computational capabilities of artificial intelligence. This revolutionary development introduces a new method of delivering genetic material to target cells.
Viruses enclose genetic material in spherical protein membranes to multiply, penetrate host cells, and cause diseases by introducing malicious DNA. Inspired by this complex structure, scientists created artificial proteins that mimic viruses, but for beneficial purposes.
However, current methods, such as adenoassociated viruses (AAV), have limitations. The size of nanocapsules restricts the transfer of sufficient genes, and their simple design lacks the multifunctionality seen in natural viral proteins.
By analyzing and replicating the intricate structural features of viruses, AI identified the importance of small asymmetric elements that determine functionality. The research group successfully recreated these nuances in artificial constructs.
The resulting nanostructures consist of four artificial protein types forming tetrahedral, octahedral, and icosahedral shapes. The interactions between these proteins create six different stability functions in the structure.
Of particular interest is the icosahedral structure, with a diameter of 75 nanometers. Compared to traditional gene delivery vectors, it offers three times the capacity.
Laboratory tests confirmed the effectiveness of the new nanocapsules, as they efficiently entered target cells and released their contents without damaging cell integrity.
This groundbreaking technology of creating artificial protein structures using AI opens up possibilities for new advancements in biomedicine. In addition to genetic therapy, this method holds promise for vaccine development and targeted drug delivery systems.