View Item 
        •   Utrecht University Student Theses Repository Home
        • UU Theses Repository
        • Theses
        • View Item
        •   Utrecht University Student Theses Repository Home
        • UU Theses Repository
        • Theses
        • View Item
        JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

        Browse

        All of UU Student Theses RepositoryBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

        Polymorphism in Core-Controlled Virus Self-Assembly: Thermodynamics vs Kinetics

        Thumbnail
        View/Open
        OrfeasKarachalios3763269MasterThesis.pdf (894.3Kb)
        Publication date
        2014
        Author
        Karachalios, O.A.
        Metadata
        Show full item record
        Summary
        Motivated by recent experimental studies we investigate theoretically the phenomenon of poly- morphism in core-controlled self-assembly of virus-like particles, where identical nanoparticles are encapsulated in differently sized shells formed by virus coat proteins. Our purpose is to understand how protein concentration, stoichiometry and preferred curvature of the protein shells (“capsids”) influence the prevalence of differently sized nanoparticle-protein complexes. We invoke equilibrium statistical theory and classical nucleation theory to study how kinetic trapping influences diagrams of state. Key ingredient is the spherical cap model describing the free energy penalty associated with the rim proteins that have fewer neighbours and hence fewer favourable contacts with other proteins in a shell. We find that the state diagrams that we calculate in and out of equilibrium differ significantly, and that kinetics favours the co-existence of polymorphs at large stoichiometric ratios and/or protein concentration.
        URI
        https://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/17713
        Collections
        • Theses
        Utrecht university logo