TY - JOUR
T1 - How rigid are viruses
AU - Hartschuh, R. D.
AU - Wargacki, S. P.
AU - Xiong, H.
AU - Neiswinger, J.
AU - Kisliuk, A.
AU - Sihn, S.
AU - Ward, V.
AU - Vaia, R. A.
AU - Sokolov, A. P.
PY - 2008/8/15
Y1 - 2008/8/15
N2 - Viruses have traditionally been studied as pathogens, but in recent years they have been adapted for applications ranging from drug delivery and gene therapy to nanotechnology, photonics, and electronics. Although the structures of many viruses are known, most of their biophysical properties remain largely unexplored. Using Brillouin light scattering, we analyzed the mechanical rigidity, intervirion coupling, and vibrational eigenmodes of Wiseana iridovirus (WIV). We identified phonon modes propagating through the viral assemblies as well as the localized vibrational eigenmode of individual viruses. The measurements indicate a Young's modulus of ∼7 GPa for single virus particles and their assemblies, surprisingly high for "soft" materials. Mechanical modeling confirms that the DNA core dominates the WIV rigidity. The results also indicate a peculiar mechanical coupling during self-assembly of WIV particles.
AB - Viruses have traditionally been studied as pathogens, but in recent years they have been adapted for applications ranging from drug delivery and gene therapy to nanotechnology, photonics, and electronics. Although the structures of many viruses are known, most of their biophysical properties remain largely unexplored. Using Brillouin light scattering, we analyzed the mechanical rigidity, intervirion coupling, and vibrational eigenmodes of Wiseana iridovirus (WIV). We identified phonon modes propagating through the viral assemblies as well as the localized vibrational eigenmode of individual viruses. The measurements indicate a Young's modulus of ∼7 GPa for single virus particles and their assemblies, surprisingly high for "soft" materials. Mechanical modeling confirms that the DNA core dominates the WIV rigidity. The results also indicate a peculiar mechanical coupling during self-assembly of WIV particles.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=50049123907&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.021907
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.021907
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:50049123907
SN - 1539-3755
VL - 78
JO - Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
JF - Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
IS - 2
M1 - 021907
ER -