Covid-19 Research

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The fight against the Covid-19 pandemic has required unprecedented efforts by the research community to understand, diagnose, and treat the Sars-Cov-2 virus. Harrick Plasma is proud to have its plasma cleaners involved in this groundbreaking research. Below are two examples of how plasma treatment has been used to bolster research efforts globally.

Cryo-EM Inhibiting the Spike Protein

By employing Cryo-EM to study SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), researchers have identified multiple inhibitory agents of the spike protein, with the potential to provide protection against the deadly disease. Cryo-EM is a burgeoning microscopy technique used to study complex biological structures, including macromolecule interactions, at the atomic level. Since the beginning of the pandemic, researchers have been mapping the virus spike and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding sites to determine the structural basis of recognition. Using this information, they have been able to identify several potential inhibitors, including human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), single domain antibodies (nanobodies), and nanoparticles.

Harrick Plasma cleaners are frequently used in conjunction with Cryo-EM for sample preparation. Plasma treatment modifies the surface of carbon-coated 200-mesh copper grids used in Cryo-EM to improve surface wettability. Spike protein samples are then evenly distributed prior to flash freezing and analysis, resulting in improved resolution.

PDMS Devices: Modeling & Detection of Covid-19

To combat the Covid-19 pandemic, researchers worked quickly to develop novel devices for virus modeling and detection. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is an attractive material for rapid prototyping because it is inexpensive, biologically inert, and provides precise, nanoscale features. The following devices were constructed using Harrick Plasma cleaners:

• CovidArray: Detection of Sars-Cov-2 in Nasopharyngeal Swabs [Damin]
• Alveolus-on-a-Chip: SARS-CoV-2 Infection Recapitulation [Cao et al]
• PDMS Wells: Cell Culture, Infection, and Inhibition [Kreutzberger et al]
• Handheld Microfluidic Self‐Testing of SARS‐CoV‐2 [Xu et al]

Plasma treatment is extensively used to facilitate PDMS bonding to fabricate microfluidic devices and microarrays. Plasma activates PDMS and glass surfaces by adding polar hydroxyl groups (-OH), rendering the surfaces hydrophilic. When plasma modified surfaces are placed in contact, silanol groups react to form siloxane bridges (Si-O-Si), providing a water-tight seal.