Nanomanipulation of single influenza virus using optical tweezers and dielectrophoretic force on a microfluidic chip

A major problem for analysis of bio-nanoparticles such as the influenza viruses (size is about 100 nm) is that sample concentration is low. We developed manipulation of the single virus using optical tweezers supported by dielectrophoretic concentration of the viruses in a microfluidic chip. The microfluidic chip made of poly (dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) is useful to achieve stable manipulation of the virus. The chip has the independent sample chamber and analysis chamber to make the quantitative analysis of the functions of the virus before and after infection to the target cell. Dielectrophoretic (DEP) force worked inside the sample chamber concentrates the virus. DEP force was also worked for avoiding virus adhesion to the glass substrate. Concentrated virus was flown to the sample selection part and was trapped by optical tweezers. Trapped virus was transported to the analysis chamber and contact to the target cell for infection. In this paper, we described the DEP virus concentration for single virus infection to a specific cell. We succeeded in the DEP concentration of the influenza virus, transport of the single virus transport, and contact to the specific H292 cell.