The development of a multifunctional tool for nanobiotechnology based on a plant virus is here described. It has been demonstrated the ability of the Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) system to remarkably sustain genetic modications and in vitro chemical derivatizations of its outer surface. These strategies resulted in the successful display of large chimeric fusion peptides as well as of small chemical molecules. Physicochemical conditions for foreign molecules loading and retention in the inner cavity of this nanoparticles' system have been defined. Furthermore, a strategy for the production and purication from plants has been optimized.

Simone Grasso received his master degree in "Biotechnology" in 2009 and his Doctorate in 2013. He is currently research fellow at the University Campus Bio-Medico di Roma. Actually, his research interests focus on the application of biological principles to the development of sensorial systems applied to medical and food industry fields.