Gentle Sampling of Submicrometer Airborne Virus Particles using a Personal Electrostatic Particle Concentrator

Abstract

Measurements of airborne viruses via sampling have been critical issues. Most electrostatic samplers have been assessed for bacterial aerosols or micrometer-sized viral particles; however, sampling of submicrometer-sized airborne viruses is necessary, especially because of the high probability of their staying airborne and their deposition in the lower respiratory tract. Here, we present a novel personal electrostatic particle concentrator (EPC) for gentle sampling of submicrometer airborne virus particles. Owing to the enhanced electric field designed in this EPC, the collection efficiencies reached values as high as 99.3-99.8% for 0.05-2 μm diameter polystyrene particles at a flow rate of 1.2 L/min. Submicrometer-sized MS2 and T3 virus particles were also collected in the EPC, and the concentrations relative to their respective initial suspensions were more than 10 times higher than those in the SKC BioSampler. Moreover, the recovery rate of T3 was 982 times higher in the EPC (-2 kV) than in the BioSampler at 12.5 L/min because of the gentle sampling of the EPC. Gentle sampling is desirable because many bioaerosols suffer from significant viability losses during sampling. The influence of ozone generated, applied electrostatic field, and the flow rate on the viability of the viruses will also be discussed.

Collection, particle sizing and detection of airborne viruses

“…Also, fewer Vaccinia viruses were collected compared with nanoparticles of similar size as the viruses could aggregate to form large particles rather than remaining as individual particles. Hong et al (2016) applied a personal ESP for sampling submicrometre-sized MS2 and T3 viruses, and found out that the recovery rate for MS2 and T3 were more than 10 times higher than the BioSampler at 12Á5 l min À1 ; its collection efficiency at the flow rate of 1Á2 l min À1 reached 99Á3-99Á8% for 0Á05-2-lm diameter PSL particles, although the efficiency for virus-containing particles is not available. Compared with inertia-based samplers, the ESP consumes less energy and it is easier to make it portable.…”

Inactivation of airborne viruses using vacuum ultraviolet photocatalysis for a flow-through indoor air purifier with short irradiation time

“…The MS2 bacteriophage (15597-B1, ATCC) was used as a surrogate for airborne viruses in this study (Hong et al 2016). Escherichia coli C3000 (15597, ATCC) was chosen as the host bacterium.…”

“…MS2 bacteriophage was selected as the model for this study. It has been widely used as a surrogate airborne virus, as its morphology is similar to that of many pathogenic viruses, including rhinovirus, poliovirus, and foot and mouth disease virus (Hong et al 2016). …”

Label-free Detection of Influenza Viruses using a Reduced Graphene Oxide-based Electrochemical Immunosensor Integrated with a Microfluidic Platform

“…This electrochemical immunosensor was integrated with a microfluidic platform, offering many advantages over macroelectrode-based electrochemical cells 19 20 . In fact, influenza viruses can be collected into a quite amount of collection buffer from a large air volume, and a microfluidic sensor platform can make it possible to effectively detect these viruses in the collection buffer 21 22 . Further, the present immunosensor detects whole viruses, rather than their nucleic acids, allowing for simple sample preparation.…”