Controlling forces and pathways in self-assembly using viruses and DNA

The ability of both viruses and DNA to self-assemble in solution has continues to enable numerous applications at the nanoscale. Here we review the relevant interactions dictating the assembly of these structures, as well as discussing how they can be exploited experimentally. Because self-assembly is a process, we discuss various strategies for achieving spatial and temporal control. Finally, we highlight a few examples of recent advances that exploit the features of these nanostructures. (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2011 3 282-297 DOI:10.1002/wnan.129