Microsecond Fluidic Force-Spectroscopy for Single-Cell Virology (S-Viro)

Viruses are unpredictable, they undergo constant mutation and can rapidly change from a minor threat to a global pandemic. The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has revealed the need for new techniques capable of a fast and precise characterisation of emerging viruses. In this project our aim is therefore to develop a new approach for rapid characterisation of viral infection mechanisms on the single-cell and single-virus level. We achieve this by combining microsecond force-spectroscopy with nanofluidics into a microsecond fluidic force microscope that can allow to simultaneously sense interaction forces down to pN and to dispense or aspirate femtoliter volume for single virus-like particles (VLPs). The high sensitivity interaction between VLPs and living cells can be obtained to reveal molecular details of the virus binding mechanisms. Subsequently, we can deliver single virions and perform nanomechanical tracking of the cellular uptake. This allows us to elucidate viral infection mechanisms on a single-particle scale as well as pursuing the consequent nanomechanical changes on a single-cell level.