Researchers have made a crucial step forward in gene therapy by designing artificial proteins that mimic the structure of viruses, using artificial intelligence models. Professor Sangmin Lee from POSTECH and Professor David Baker, the 2024 Nobel Chemistry Laureate from the University of Washington, collaborated on this innovative project, which was published in Nature. The team created virus-like nanocages with complex structures, including tetrahedral, octahedral, and icosahedral shapes, using AI-driven computational design. These nanostructures are composed of four types of artificial proteins and can hold up to three times more genetic material than conventional gene delivery vectors, such as adeno-associated viruses. This advancement has the potential to accelerate the development of gene therapies and drive innovations in next-generation vaccines and other biomedical applications, with support from organizations including the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
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