Long rod shaped M13 viruses were used to fabricate one dimensional (1D)
micro- and nanosized diameter fibers by mimic the spinning process of the
silk spider. Liquid crystalline virus suspensions were extruded through
the micrometer diameter capillary tubes in cross-linking solution
(glutaraldehyde). Resulting fibers were tens of micrometers in diameter
depending on the inner diameter of the capillary tip. AFM image verified
that molecular long axis of the virus fibers were parallel to the fiber
long axis. Although aqueous M13 virus suspension could not be spun by
electrospinning, M13 viruses suspended in
1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol were spun into fibers. After blending
with highly water soluble polymer, polyvinyl 2-pyrolidone (PVP), M13
viruses was spun into continuous uniform virus blended PVP (virus-PVP)
fibers. Resulting virus-PVP electrospun fibers showed intact infecting
ability to bacterial hosts after suspending in the buffer solution.