A new method for quickly and accurately detecting nanoparticles and viruses marks a major advancement in virus detection technology, merging confocal fluorescence microscopy with microfluidic laminar flow. Unlike traditional PCR methods, which are slow, laborious and require specialized equipment, this approach can swiftly identify single virus particles in a cost-effective manner using the recently introduced 3D-printed microscopy approach, Brick-MIC. This innovation significantly improves sensitivity and specificity in virus detection, potentially changing how we monitor health and respond to viral outbreaks. Its portable design makes it suitable for wider clinical use, enhancing public health responses in an increasingly complex landscape of viral challenges.

 

In a major breakthrough for virus detection technology, Prof. Dr. Eitan Lerner and the PhD candidate, Mrs. Paz Drori from the Hebrew University and their team together with their colleagues in the research group of Prof. Dr. Thorben Cordes from Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich and the Technical University Dortmund have developed a new method for quickly and accurately detecting nanoparticles and viruses, one at a time. This innovative approach combines confocal fluorescence microscopy with microfluidic laminar flow, offering an effective alternative to traditional methods.

 

Current virus detection often relies on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is as accurate as it can get, but it can be slow, as well as laborious, and requires specialized lab equipment. While antigen-based tests provide faster results, they tend to be less sensitive and less accurate. Prof. Lerner’s research tackles these challenges by using a confocal-based flow virometry that can swiftly detect specific single virus particles.

 

The method combines laminar flow in a microfluidic channel with fluorescence signals from free dyes and labeled antibodies, providing important insights into nanoparticle characteristics. The researchers teamed up with the group of Prof. Dr. Eran Zahavy from the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR), with which they were able to work with various viruses that include the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. Together, the team tested this method on fluorescent beads and various viruses that include the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, demonstrating its impressive accuracy and detection specificity.

 

A key feature of this new assay is rooted in the option to employ hydrodynamic focusing, which greatly improves sensitivity for detecting viruses at clinically-relevant concentrations. This technology is designed to be portable and user-friendly, using an affordable 3D-printed Brick-MIC setup, rendering it accessible for wider use in clinical settings.

 

This research opens the door to a new era of rapid and precise virus detection, which is closely aligned with the principles of individual targeted healthcare. By enabling quick and specific identification of viruses and nanoparticles, this method is envisioned to facilitate personalized monitoring of health conditions at the individual level. Such precise detection allows healthcare providers to tailor interventions based on specific patient needs, ensuring that treatments are more effective and timelier.

 

The research paper titled “Rapid and specific detection of nanoparticles and viruses one at a time using microfluidic laminar flow and confocal fluorescence microscopy” is now available at iScience and can be accessed at https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(24)02207-7, and the novel 3D printed microscopy approach, Brick-MIC is summarized and detailed in the research paper titled “Single-molecule detection and super-resolution imaging with a portable and adaptable 3D-printed microscopy platform (Brick-MIC)” is now available at Science Advances and can be accessed at https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.ado3427

DOIs:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.110982 and https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado3427

 

Picture

Title: Specific & Rapid Single Particle Detection

Description: Confocal- & laminar flow-based detection scheme of intact virus particles, one at a time

Credit: Paz Drori

 

 

 

Researchers:

Paz Drori ¹, Odelia Mouhadeb ², Gabriel G. Moya Muñoz ^3,4, Yair Razvag ¹, Ron Alcalay ², Philipp Klocke ³, Thorben Cordes ^3,4, Eran Zahavy ², Eitan Lerner ^1,5

and

Gabriel G. Moya Muñoz ^3,4, Oliver Brix ³, Philipp Klocke ³, Paul D. Harris ¹, Jorge R. Luna Piedra ³, Nicolas D. Wendler ^3,4, Eitan Lerner ^1,5, Niels Zijlstra ³, Thorben Cordes ^3,4

 

Institutions:

1. Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics & Science, The Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research
3. Physical and Synthetic Biology. Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
4. Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Technische Universität Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
5. The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81st according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en