A theory for viral capsid assembly around electrostatic cores

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  • 15 August 2008
Abstract
We develop equilibrium and kinetic theories that describe the dynamic assembly of viral capsid proteins on a charged central core, such as a charge-functionalized nanoparticle. We model interactions between capsid proteins and nanoparticle surfaces as the adsorption of a polyelectrolyte brush onto a surface with opposite charge, using the full nonlinear Poisson Boltzmann equation. The model enables quantitative predictions about the relationships between core charge density, assembly efficiency, and assembly rates. Model predictions are compared to data from experiments in which viral proteins assemble on the surfaces of charge-functionalized nanoparticles to form nanoparticle-filled capsids. The model accurately predicts the value for a threshold surface density of functionalized charge, above which a measurable number of nanoparticles are incorporated into capsids, and captures most features of assembly kinetics inferred from time-resolved light scattering data. However, the model predicts a stronger dependence of nanoparticle incorporation efficiency on functionalized charge density then measured an experiment; this discrepancy could suggest the presence of metastable disordered states in the experimental system. In addition to discussing future something design of applications for nanoparticle capsid systems, we discuss broader implications for understanding assembly around charged cores such as nucleic acids.

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