About this Research Topic
VNPs can be viewed from a nanotechnological standpoint. VLPs can be used to encapsulate a variety of other molecules, such as drugs, proteins of all sorts, image enhancers, etc. Parts of their external surfaces can be substituted with other molecules, the whole surface can be decorated with new molecules, and avidity for new interactions between the VNPs and other molecules, or even other nanoparticles, can be created. The more classical ´molecular farming´ goal of making plants serve as natural biofactories has now been enlarged to compass their use as factories for the production of custom-made nanoparticles, the modified VNPs.
Applications of this emerging technology are myriad. Biomedicine - both therapy and diagnosis-, agriculture, micro- and nanodevices, including electronic applications, environmentally-oriented developments are only the most obvious examples already found in the literature. Many more will undoubtedly emerge as the field grows. Indeed, with this technology plant biotechnology meets nanotechnology.
In this Research Topic we welcome submissions on all on the different aspects of plant-made viral nanoparticles, ranging from basic structural studies of the different VNPs in connection with their applications, all the way to details of their practical implementation. Intermediate aspects, such as VNP construct engineering, production and purification issues, results obtained in their different applications, and overviews or reflections on the different technologies involved would enable coverage of all aspects of the topic.
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