Composite Liquid Marbles as a Macroscopic Model System Representing Shedding of Enveloped Viruses.

Pritam Kumar Roy,Edward Bormashenko,Shraga Shoval,Syuji Fujii,Bernard P. Binks

doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c01230

Pritam Kumar Roy, Edward Bormashenko + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c01230

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Abstract

A model macroscopic system imitating the entry of viruses into living cells is suggested. The system represents the contact of a composite (core-shell) liquid marble with hydrophobic/hydrophilic particles. Composite liquid marbles are water droplets coated with silicone oil armored with nanometer-sized hydrophobic particles serving as an interfacial model of a living cell. Composite marbles absorbed hydrophilic polymer particles but prevented hydrophobic particles from entering their core. Swallowing of hydrophilic particles by composite marbles resembles the penetration of viruses into living cells. The interfacial mechanism of absorption is suggested.

Highlights

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on earth, more than single-celled organisms and bacteria together.[1]
We studied the contact of composite marbles with four kinds of solid object of two different millimetrically-scaled sizes, namely: hydrophobic particles, hydrophilic particles, hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles coated with oil
Three very different scenarios of contact were observed: (i) pristine hydrophobic and oil-coated hydrophobic particles were attached to the surface of the liquid marble, (ii) hydrophilic particles were swallowed by the composite marbles and penetrated its core, at occurs when a living cell “absorbs” the enveloped virus; (iii) oil-coated hydrophilic particles accomplished the coating layer of the composite marbles, becoming attached to the marble in the nearest vicinity of its surface

Summary

Introduction

Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on earth, more than single-celled organisms and bacteria together.[1]. We studied the contact of composite marbles with four kinds of solid object of two different millimetrically-scaled sizes, namely: hydrophobic particles, hydrophilic particles, hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles coated with oil.

Results

Conclusion