In the long-standing battle against viral pathogens, the primary weapons have traditionally been chemical: vaccines that prime the immune system or antivirals that disrupt molecular replication. However, researchers at the University of São Paulo’s São Carlos Institute of Physics are exploring a more visceral, mechanical approach. By utilizing high-frequency ultrasound waves, the team has successfully demonstrated that they can physically dismantle the structures of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and H1N1, rendering them inert through physics rather than pharmacology.
The technique relies on a phenomenon known as acoustic resonance. Much like a violin string shattering a crystal glass by hitting a precise harmonic note, ultrasound waves are tuned to match the natural vibration frequency of the viral particle. Because viruses such as the coronavirus and influenza are spherical and encased in a lipid envelope, they are particularly susceptible to absorbing this mechanical energy. As the energy accumulates within the particle, the viral envelope begins to deform and buckle under the stress of the vibrations.
During laboratory testing, the researchers observed what they described as a "popcorn effect." Under the influence of the sound waves, the viral particles undergo a rapid transformation, either fragmenting entirely or sustaining enough structural damage to lose their ability to dock with and infect human cells. This mechanical destruction bypasses the complex chemical pathways that viruses often evolve to circumvent, offering a potential new methodology for viral inactivation that prioritizes geometry over biochemistry.
With reporting from Olhar Digital.
Source · Olhar Digital
