The 3D printed setup enables fast and accurate virus detection

A new method for rapid and accurate detection of nanoparticles and viruses represents a major advance in virus detection technology, combining confocal fluorescence microscopy with microfluidic laminar flow. Unlike traditional PCR methods, which are slow, laborious and require specialized equipment, this approach can quickly and cost-effectively identify individual virus particles using the recently introduced 3D printed microscopy approach, Brick-MIC.

The research, titled “Rapid and specific detection of nanoparticles and viruses individually using microfluidic laminar flow and confocal fluorescence microscopy,” was published in iScienceand the novel 3D printed microscopy approach Brick-MIC are summarized and described in detail in the research paper titled “Single molecule detection and super-resolution imaging using a portable and customizable 3D printed microscopy platform (Brick-MIC).” Scientific advances.

This innovation significantly improves the sensitivity and specificity of virus detection, potentially changing the way we monitor health and respond to viral outbreaks. Its portable design makes it suitable for broader clinical use and improves public health responses in an increasingly complex landscape of viral challenges.

In a major breakthrough in virus detection technology, Prof. Dr. Eitan Lerner and the Ph.D. Candidate, Ms. Paz Drori from the Hebrew University, and her team, together with her colleagues in the research group of Prof. Dr. Thorben Cordes from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Technical University of Dortmund developed a new method for the rapid and accurate detection of nanoparticles and viruses, one by one.

This innovative approach combines confocal fluorescence microscopy with microfluidic laminar flow and offers an effective alternative to traditional methods.

Current virus detection often relies on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which, while as accurate as possible, can be slow, laborious and requires specialized laboratory equipment. While antigen-based tests provide faster results, they tend to be less sensitive and less accurate. Prof. Lerner's research addresses these challenges by using confocal-based flow virometry, which can quickly detect specific individual virus particles.

The method combines laminar flow in a microfluidic channel with fluorescence signals from free dyes and labeled antibodies, providing important insights into the properties of nanoparticles.

The researchers worked with the group of Prof. Dr. Eran Zahavy from the Israel Institute for Biological Research (IIBR), where they were able to work with different viruses, including the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Together, the team tested this method on fluorescent beads and various viruses containing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, demonstrating its impressive accuracy and detection specificity.

A key feature of this new assay is the hydrodynamic focusing option, which significantly improves the sensitivity for detecting viruses at clinically relevant concentrations. This technology is designed to be portable and user-friendly and utilizes a low-cost 3D printed brick MIC setup, making it amenable to wider use in clinical settings.

This research opens the door to a new era of rapid and precise virus detection, closely linked to the principles of individualized, targeted healthcare. By quickly and specifically identifying viruses and nanoparticles, this method is intended to enable personalized health monitoring at an individual level.

Such precise detection allows healthcare providers to tailor interventions to the patient's specific needs, ensuring treatments are more effective and timely.