Label-free single nanoparticle identification and characterization including infectious emergent virus

TL;DR

RYMINI is a novel, noninvasive optical technique that enables label-free identification and detailed characterization of individual nanoparticles, including viruses, in solution without prior knowledge or modifications.

Contribution

The paper introduces RYMINI, a compact optical system combining holographic 3D tracking and phase imaging for label-free nano-object analysis in complex environments.

Findings

Successfully characterized HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2, and vesicles in solution.

Determined size, refractive index, and mass of single particles.

Compatible with high-containment biological laboratories.

Abstract

Screening of unknown particles, including viruses and nanoparticles, is key in medicine, industry and pollutant determination. However, existing techniques require sample a priori knowledge or modification (e.g. fluorescence). Here we introduce RYtov MIcroscopy for Nanoparticles Identification (RYMINI), a noninvasive and non-destructive optical approach that is combining holographic labelfree 3D tracking and high-sensitivity quantitative phase imaging into a compact optical setup. Dedicated to the characterization of nano-objects in solution, it is compatible with highly demanding environments such as level-3 biological laboratories. Metrological characterization has been performed at the level of each single object on both absorbing and transparent particles as well as on infectious HIV-1, SARS-CoV-2 and extracellular vesicles in solution. We demonstrate the capability of RYMINI to determine the nature, concentration, size, complex refractive index and mass of each single particle. We discuss the application of the method in unknown solution without requiring any knowledge or model of the particles' response. It paves the way to label-free nano-object identification in terra incognita.