Any material containing regular nano-sized pores or voids can be used as a template to form nanoparticles. Examples of such templates so far used include porous alumina, zeolites, di-block co-polymers, dendrimers, proteins and other molecules. The template does not have to be a 3D object. Artificial templates can be created on a plane surface or a gas-liquid interface by forming self-assembled monolayers. Scientists are now trying to engineer objects available in the nature on the scale of atoms and molecules as a template to form nanoparticles. UK scientists from Norwich have used a plant virus to create nanotechnology building blocks. according to them cowpea mosaic virus has all the characteristics of an ideal nanoscaffold/building block. It has a near spherical structure of 28 nm diameter and its properties are defined. The virus particles can be obtained in gram scale from 1 kg of infected plant leaves. Amino acids on the exterior surface of the virus particle provide sites of attachment for a range of chemicals. The scientists after isolating a virus particle from the peas attached ferrocene compounds to amino acids on its surface. The virus particles were then used as nano-building blocks or a template or scaffold in manufacturing nanomaterials. Nearly 240 of the organometallic compounds, each containing an electronically active iron atom were attached for making the nanoparticle to become like a molecular capacitor that could store electronic charge. This could lead to the particles being used in biosensors, nanoelectronic devices, or for electrocatalytic processes.