ViriChip: a solid phase assay for detection and identification of viruses by atomic forcemicroscopy

Abstract

Bionanotechnology can be viewed as the integration of tools and concepts innanotechnology with the attributes of biomolecules. We report here on an atomic forcemicroscopy–immunosensor assay (AFMIA) that couples AFM with solid phase affinitycapture of biological entities for the rapid detection and identification of group Bcoxsackievirus particles. Virus identification is based on type-specific immunocapture andthe morphological properties of the captured viruses as obtained by the AFM.Representatives of the six group B coxsackieviruses have been specifically captured from1 µl volumes of clarified cell lysates, body fluids and environmental samples.Concentration and kinetic profiles for capture indicate that detection is possible at103 TCID50 µl−1 and the dynamic range of the assay spans three logs. The results demonstrate thatthe melding of a nanotechnological tool (AFM) with biotechnology (solid phaseimmunocapture of virus particles) can create a clinically relevant platform, useful forthe detection and identification of enterovirus particles in a variety of samples.