Viruses as nanoparticles: structure versus collective dynamics

• Published in: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 90; no. 2; p. 022718
• Main Authors: Sirotkin, S, Mermet, A, Bergoin, M, Ward, V, Van Etten, J L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-08-2014
• Subjects: Colloids - chemistry; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Models, Theoretical; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Scattering, Radiation; Vibration; Viruses - chemistry; Water - chemistry; X-Rays
• ISSN: 1539-3755; 1550-2376
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.022718

In order to test the application of the "nanoparticle" concept to viruses in terms of low-frequency dynamics, large viruses (140-190 nm) were compared to similar-sized polymer colloids using ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering and very-low-frequency Raman or Brillouin scattering. While both viruses and polymer colloids show comparable highly defined morphologies, with comparable abilities of forming self-assembled structures, their respective abilities to confine detectable acoustic vibrations, as expected for such monodisperse systems, differed. Possible reasons for these different behaviors are discussed.