Viral capsid-like titania for selective enrichment of phosphorylated peptides

Viral capsid-like materials have been recognized as bionanotechnology platforms with great potential in controlled drug release, gene transfer and bioimaging. However, their functions still need to be optimized in aspects such as efficient drug transfer and selective targeting. Herein, we report a simple alternative strategy to fabricate viral capsid-like titania (VCL-TiO₂) bearing ordered mesoporous channels and protrusions on its surface. The morphology of the synthesized titania materials matches nearly perfectly the outer surface of a real viral capsid. In particular, the robust VCL-TiO₂ exhibits high porosity and a high degree of monodispersity in its particle size which makes it ideal for selectively and efficiently enriching phosphorylated peptides (PPs). Moreover, the microsized VCL-TiO₂ could be easily collected and recycled through centrifugation.