Biomimetic virus-based colourimetric sensors

Jin-Woo Oh, Woo-Jae Chung, Kwang Heo, Hyo-Eon Jin, Byung Yang Lee, Eddie Wang, Chris Zueger, Winnie Wong, Joel Meyer, Chuntae Kim, So-Young Lee, Won-Geun Kim, Marcin Zemla, Manfred Auer, Alexander Hexemer and Seung-Wuk Lee ()
Additional contact information
Jin-Woo Oh: University of California
Woo-Jae Chung: University of California
Kwang Heo: University of California
Hyo-Eon Jin: University of California
Byung Yang Lee: University of California
Eddie Wang: University of California
Chris Zueger: University of California
Winnie Wong: University of California
Joel Meyer: University of California
Chuntae Kim: Pusan National University
So-Young Lee: Pusan National University
Won-Geun Kim: Pusan National University
Marcin Zemla: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Manfred Auer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Alexander Hexemer: Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Seung-Wuk Lee: University of California

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Many materials in nature change colours in response to stimuli, making them attractive for use as sensor platform. However, both natural materials and their synthetic analogues lack selectivity towards specific chemicals, and introducing such selectivity remains a challenge. Here we report the self-assembly of genetically engineered viruses (M13 phage) into target-specific, colourimetric biosensors. The sensors are composed of phage-bundle nanostructures and exhibit viewing-angle independent colour, similar to collagen structures in turkey skin. On exposure to various volatile organic chemicals, the structures rapidly swell and undergo distinct colour changes. Furthermore, sensors composed of phage displaying trinitrotoluene (TNT)-binding peptide motifs identified from a phage display selectively distinguish TNT down to 300 p.p.b. over similarly structured chemicals. Our tunable, colourimetric sensors can be useful for the detection of a variety of harmful toxicants and pathogens to protect human health and national security.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4043

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