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Nonn A, Kiss B, Pezeshkian W, Tancogne-Dejean T, Cerrone A, Kellermayer M, Bai Y, Li W, Wierzbicki T. Inferring mechanical properties of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particle with nano-indentation tests and numerical simulations. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2023; 148:106153. [PMID: 37865016 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2023.106153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has claimed more than 6.5 million lives worldwide. This global challenge has led to accelerated development of highly effective vaccines tied to their ability to elicit a sustained immune response. While numerous studies have focused primarily on the spike (S) protein, less is known about the interior of the virus. Here we propose a methodology that combines several experimental and simulation techniques to elucidate the internal structure and mechanical properties of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The mechanical response of the virus was analyzed by nanoindentation tests using a novel flat indenter and evaluated in comparison to a conventional sharp tip indentation. The elastic properties of the viral membrane were estimated by analytical solutions, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on a membrane patch and by a 3D Finite Element (FE)-beam model of the virion's spike protein and membrane molecular structure. The FE-based inverse engineering approach provided a reasonable reproduction of the mechanical response of the virus from the sharp tip indentation and was successfully verified against the flat tip indentation results. The elastic modulus of the viral membrane was estimated in the range of 7-20 MPa. MD simulations showed that the presence of proteins significantly reduces the fracture strength of the membrane patch. However, FE simulations revealed an overall high fracture strength of the virus, with a mechanical behavior similar to the highly ductile behavior of engineering metallic materials. The failure mechanics of the membrane during sharp tip indentation includes progressive damage combined with localized collapse of the membrane due to severe bending. Furthermore, the results support the hypothesis of a close association of the long membrane proteins (M) with membrane-bound hexagonally packed ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Beyond improved understanding of coronavirus structure, the present findings offer a knowledge base for the development of novel prevention and treatment methods that are independent of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Nonn
- CMM Lab, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, OTH Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Bálint Kiss
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary; ELKH-SE Biophysical Virology Research Group, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary
| | - Weria Pezeshkian
- Niels Bohr International Academy, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Albert Cerrone
- Computational Hydraulics Laboratory, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Miklos Kellermayer
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary; ELKH-SE Biophysical Virology Research Group, Budapest, H-1094, Hungary
| | - Yuanli Bai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace of Engineering, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Impact and Crashworthiness Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Tomasz Wierzbicki
- Impact and Crashworthiness Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Streltsov DR, Borisov KM, Kalinina AA, Muzafarov AM. Quantitative Elasticity Mapping of Submicron Silica Hollow Particles by PeakForce QNM AFM Mode. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:1916. [PMID: 37446432 DOI: 10.3390/nano13131916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Silica hollow spheres with a diameter of 100-300 nm and a shell thickness of 8±2 nm were synthesized using a self-templating amphiphilic polymeric precursor, i.e., poly(ethylene glycol)-substituted hyperbranched polyethoxysiloxane. Their elastic properties were addressed with a high-frequency AFM indentation method based on the PeakForce QNM (quantitative nanomechanical mapping) mode enabling simultaneous visualization of the surface morphology and high-resolution mapping of the mechanical properties. The factors affecting the accuracy of the mechanical measurements such as a local slope of the particle surface, deformation of the silica hollow particles by a solid substrate, shell thickness variation, and applied force range were analysed. The Young's modulus of the shell material was evaluated as E=26±7 GPa independent of the applied force in the elastic regime of deformations. Beyond the elastic regime, the buckling instability was observed revealing a non-linear force-deformation response with a hysteresis between the loading and unloading force-distance curves and irreversible deformation of the shell at high applied forces. Thus, it was demonstrated that PeakForce QNM mode can be used for quantitative measurements of the elastic properties of submicon-sized silica hollow particles with nano-size shell thickness, as well as for estimation of the buckling behaviour beyond the elastic regime of shell deformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry R Streltsov
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kirill M Borisov
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra A Kalinina
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
| | - Aziz M Muzafarov
- Enikolopov Institute of Synthetic Polymeric Materials of Russian Academy of Sciences, 117393 Moscow, Russia
- A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
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Doering U, Grigoriev D, Riske T, Fery A, Böker A. Nanodeformations of microcapsules: comparing the effects of cross-linking and nanoparticles. RSC Adv 2022; 12:24140-24145. [PMID: 36093237 PMCID: PMC9400586 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra04330k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanical properties of proteinaceous and composite microcapsules loaded with oil were measured by SFM and evaluated using the Reissner model. Comparison of the obtained results reveals significantly higher Young’s moduli of protein capsules due to intermolecular crosslinking. In contrast, conformational restrictions in composite microcapsules inhibit protein crosslinking leading to the reduction of their elasticity. SFM results for protein and composite microcapsules are evaluated by the Reissner model. Protein capsules show higher Young’s moduli due to crosslinking, which is absent in composite capsules because of restrictions in the protein conformations.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Doering
- University of Potsdam, Institute of Chemistry, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Dmitry Grigoriev
- Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Geiselbergstr. 69, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tino Riske
- Leibniz-Institute for Polymer Research Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institute for Polymer Research Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Böker
- Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Geiselbergstr. 69, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
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Huang YH, Salmon F, Kamble A, Xu AX, Michelon M, Leopercio BC, Carvalho MS, Frostad JM. Models for the mechanical characterization of core-shell microcapsules under uniaxial deformation. Food Hydrocoll 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2021.106762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Chabouh G, Dollet B, Quilliet C, Coupier G. Spherical oscillations of encapsulated microbubbles: Effect of shell compressibility and anisotropy. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 149:1240. [PMID: 33639825 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We introduce a model that describes spherical oscillations of encapsulated microbubbles in an unbounded surrounding fluid. A Rayleigh-Plesset-like equation is derived by coupling the Navier-Stokes equation that describes fluid dynamics with the Navier equation that describes solid dynamics via the internal/external boundary conditions. While previous models were restricted to incompressible isotropic shells, the solid shell is modeled here as a compressible viscoelastic isotropic material and then generalized to an anisotropic material. The exact value of the resonance frequency is calculated analytically, and the damping constant is computed in the approximation of weak damping. A correction of the widely used Church model for incompressible shells is evidenced, and the effects of shell compressibility and anisotropy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Chabouh
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Benjamin Dollet
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Gwennou Coupier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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