US Patent 8019555 - Virus as a scaffold for hierarchical self-assembly

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8019555.html

This patent from U.S. Naval Research includes some broad claims for building blocks of biomolecular nanotechnology which may be useful in bio-detection or memory applications. Claim 1 reads:

1. A particle comprising:

a virus having a surface;

a plurality of inorganic nanoparticles bound to the surface; and

one or more molecular wires connecting the nanoparticles.