Functionalized nano-assemblies for targeted virus destruction
Nanoparticles functionalized with charged tethers or chelating groups designed to attach to and destroy viruses even under hostile conditions. Tethers reorient upon contact for adhesion, penetration, and destruction, with potential applications in disinfectants and antiviral formulations.
Overview
This technology involves nanoparticles functionalized with charged tethers or chelating groups that enable targeted transport, attachment, and destruction of viruses. The core innovation is the ability of these tethers to reorient upon contact with a target surface, with complementary tethers extending to reach the virus while antagonistic ones retract, enabling controlled attachment. This approach is designed to function even under hostile environmental conditions, making it potentially valuable for antiviral disinfectants, surface treatments, and formulation-based virus control products.
Technical specifications
- Smart tether reorientation: Particles carry both positive and negative tethers; upon approaching a target surface, complementary tethers extend while antagonistic tethers retract to enable attachment
- Controllable adhesion: Attachment can be tuned through tether length and charge distribution on the particle surface
- Environmental responsiveness: Tether reconfiguration can be triggered by changes in pH and ionic strength
- Chelating group functionality: Particles can incorporate chelating groups for enhanced targeting and virus interaction
- Polymeric assembly potential: Beyond latex-based nanoparticles, polymeric assemblies with similar responsive behavior are under exploration
- Formulation compatibility: Designed to disperse in formulations such as disinfectants and to maintain rheological behavior suitable for storage, transport, and delivery under varying temperatures and turbulence
Technology readiness level
The concept has been validated at the laboratory scale using Atomic Force Microscopy, demonstrating tether retraction and extension behavior on model surfaces. Latex particles with net negative charge have been shown to deposit on negatively charged surfaces, confirming the tether reorientation mechanism. Future validation will focus on preparing nanoparticles with varied tether lengths and charge distributions, optimizing deposition on simulated virus surfaces, and testing behavior in the presence of surfactants, polymers, and commercial disinfectant formulations such as Lysol.
About Columbia University
Columbia University is a comprehensive private research university in New York City, combining an Ivy League academic profile with globally engaged scholarship and professional education. Its integration with a major hospital system through Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian enables clinical collaboration, access to diverse patient populations, and regulated studies at scale. State-of-the-art laboratories and shared core facilities across the Morningside and Manhattanville campuses support co-located industry projects, while proximity to New York’s finance, media, and healthcare ecosystems streamlines talent pipelines and pilot deployments. Industry engages via sponsored research, affiliate programs, executive education, and convenings that connect faculty expertise with corporate R&D priorities. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, and DoD, alongside New York State and philanthropic sources. Columbia Technology Ventures provides IP management, licensing, startup support, and translational funding mechanisms that lower barriers to commercialization.
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