Some viruses are harmful because they replicate inside a host until the immune system stops them. However, we can also utilize viruses to deliver beneficial genes instead of harmful ones. Essentially, a virus is a carrier for genes. Today, viruses are widely used in vaccines, gene therapy, and scientific research. 

Can we use such viruses to deliver even larger entities, like nanoparticles? Our research has developed a new chemical method to attach nanoparticles (seen as the black core with a gray shell in the image) to viruses (the smaller, dimmer particles in the image). These combined structures, chimeras, successfully transported nanoparticles to the virus’s target, such as the brain. This novel approach holds great promise for delivering nanotherapeutics in a precise and efficient manner. 

The precise control over the chemistry between abiotic nanoparticles and biotic viruses, demonstrated in this image, represents a critical breakthrough that realizes highly efficient and targeted nanoparticle delivery to specific organs.