Molecular Engineering and Applications of Protein Cages and Cavities
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomacromolecules: Proteins, Nucleic Acids and Carbohydrates".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 49
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bionanomaterials; medicinal chemistry; enzymology; bioorganic chemistry; protein structure and function; drug discovery, design and delivery; biomaterials, polymers and bioplastics; biochemistry and biophysics; bionanotechnology and biosensors; soft matter; smart and functional materials; molecular therapeutics and theranostics; nanomaterials; microbiology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The ability to encapsulate “guest” molecules such as drugs, biophysical probes, enzymes, and inorganic catalysts, among other entities, within the cavity of complex multisubunit proteins is an enabling strategy to fabricate novel bionanomaterials with unique functionality. Proteins such as ferritins, virus-like nanoparticles, vault proteins, encapsulins, as well as cavity containing large enzymes such as lumazine synthase and chaperonins, are being employed to expand the controlled incorporation of guest molecules within them. Furthermore, the bioconjugation of the outer surfaces of these cage proteins results in the potential to target these macromolecular structures to cells, microorganisms, tissues, and inorganic devices. This special issue on Molecular Engineering and Applications of Protein Cages and Cavities will serve to collect and present the current state-of-the-art in the design, fabrication, and applications of these exciting biosystems.
Prof. Dr. John F. Honek
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- host-guest encapsulation
- drug targeting
- virus-like nanoparticles
- ferritins
- cavity-containing biomolecules
- vault proteins
- encapsulins
- nanocompartments
- medicinal, materials science, and analytical applications
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