The present invention relates to nanoparticles and their use to form nanocomposite material, in particular bionanocomposite material, specifically wherein the nanoparticles are formed using plant virus attached to a scaffold of cellulosic material and/or cellulose derived materials, in particular wherein said cellulosic material further comprises plant cell components, for example hemicellulose, pectin, protein or combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to macromolecular complexes comprising micron-scale networks which include binding motifs thereon which allow the covalent bonding of the micron-scale networks to particles which provide nanoscale display surfaces. In particular the present invention relates to micron-scale networks of TMV coat proteins comprising a peptide tag (e.g. SpyTag) and particles providing a nanoscale display surface comprising GFP and a corresponding binding protein (e.g. SpyCatcher) wherein the peptide tag and binding protein pair are capable of spontaneously forming a covalent bond.

A melt processed viral nanoparticle construct for delivery of virus or virus-like particles to a site of interest includes a degradable polymer matrix and a plurality of virus or virus-like particles encapsulated within the degradable polymer matrix. The nanoparticle construct upon administration to the site of interest providing a sustained release of the virus or virus-like particles and/or nanoparticles upon degradation of the polymer matrix.

A peptide for targeting MRP-14 has an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 9, and SEQ ID NO: 10.

An agent is described that includes a plant virus particle or VLP conjugate to TRAIL. Associating TRAIL with the plant virus particle or VLP serves to both target cancer cells and induce their apoptosis. The agent can therefore be used for a method of treating cancer in a subject.

A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof includes administering in situ to the cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a virus or virus-like particle.

Photodynamic virus particles including a plant virus particle associated with a photosensitizing agent are described. Methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the photodynamic virus particles and illuminating a cancer-bearing region of the subject to activate the photodynamic virus particles are also described.

The present invention is, in general, directed to nanoparticles for the delivery of agents to glioblastoma tumors. More particularly, the present invention relates to nanoparticle conjugates that deliver and release agents to a glioblastoma tumor. The invention is also directed to methods of delivering agents to glioblastoma tumors.

Provided herein is a recombinant rod-shaped viral particle comprising a fusion protein comprising a coat protein for a rod-shaped plant virus and a epitope from a human and/or human pathogen, where the epitope is disposed on the outer surface of the viral particle. In certain cases, the amino acid sequence of the coat protein is at least 40% identical to the amino acid sequence of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) coat protein.

A method of treating cancer in a subject in need thereof includes administering in situ to the cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a virus or virus-like particle.