Bacteriophage, viruses that infect bacteria, are in many ways ideal nanomaterials.
Their structure and infection cycle are encoded in small genomes that
can be readily manipulated using simple recombinant DNA techniques.
Naturally occurring virions (virus particles) exhibit a great diversity of
shapes in the nanometer range, with well-defined geometry and uniformity
favorable for nano-fabrication. Moreover, they have turned out to be
remarkably tolerant of structural alteration. The atomic structures of many
viruses have been determined, allowing precise engineering of their modified
forms with predetermined shapes and functions and a precise spatial distribution
of virus-fused functional peptides at a nanoscale level. In this book,
we will outline progress in the development of the phage-derived nanomaterials
and their use as bioselectable interfaces in medical and technical devices