Functional Infectious Nanoparticle Detector: Finding Viruses by Detecting Their Host Entry Functions Using Organic...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Virology
• Bioelectronics

Background:

• Emerging viruses pose a significant threat, necessitating rapid detection and intervention strategies.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for advanced viral sensing and inhibitor screening platforms.
• Current methods for assessing viral entry mechanisms can be limited in specificity and speed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel bioelectronic platform for sensing viral entry into host cells.
• To achieve high specificity in distinguishing fusion-competent from fusion-incompetent viruses.
• To enable screening of antiviral compounds targeting viral fusion mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• A label-free electronic readout combined with optical (fluorescence) detection was employed.
• Organic bioelectronic devices, configured as electrodes and transistors, were functionalized with biomembranes.
• Virus-membrane fusion was triggered by pH changes, inducing conformational alterations in viral proteins like hemagglutinin.

Main Results:

• The platform successfully recapitulated influenza virus entry processes using functionalized biomembranes.
• Label-free detection of virus membrane fusion was achieved using the developed bioelectronic devices.
• Changes in membrane properties correlated with virus fusion events were accurately measured.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioelectronic platform offers a sensitive and specific method for detecting viral entry.
• This technology can differentiate between viruses capable and incapable of membrane fusion.
• The platform holds potential for drug discovery by screening antiviral agents that inhibit viral fusion.