Virus particle detection by solid phase immunocapture and atomic force microscopy

Abstract

A novel application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the rapid, label-free detection and identification of viruses is described. Multiplexed, miniaturized antibody domains were constructed using “ink-jet” protein arraying technology. The solid-phase affinity substrate termed the “ViriChip” was used in the immunocapture of bacteriophage fd, canine parvoviruses, and coxsackieviruses and analyzed by AFM. Immunocapture was found to be antibody-specific with a sensitivity of 108 pfu/ml in 30 min. Virus binding was found to be linear for concentration between 108 and 1010 pfu/ml and did not reach saturation through 4 h.