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.

An anti-cancer virus composition including an icosahedral-shaped plant virus or virus-like particle linked to a HER2 antigen is described. The anti-cancer virus composition can be used for methods of treating or decreasing the risk of developing a HER2-expressing cancer in a subject by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the anti-cancer virus composition.

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.

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.

An anti-cancer virus composition including an icosahedral-shaped plant virus or virus-like particle linked to a HER2 antigen is described. The anti-cancer virus composition can be used for methods of treating or decreasing the risk of developing a HER2-expressing cancer in a subject by administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the anti-cancer virus composition.

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.

A method for functionalizing plant viral nanoparticles (VNPs) includes selecting a plant VNP. Additionally, a metal ion and a phenolic compound that form a metal-phenolic network (MPN), and at least one functional component that adheres to the MPN are also selected. A nanohybrid structure is synthesized from a solution of the selected metal, the selected phenolic compound and the selected functional component such that the synthesized nanohybrid structure has an MPN coating encapsulating the plant VNP with the functional component being embedded in the MPN coating.