Capturing fluorescing viruses with silver nanowires

We demonstrate fast and simple route to selective virus detection using antibody-functionalized silver nanowires. While the immunocomplex formation takes place in solution, the presence of viruses is determined by correlating transmission and fluorescence images obtained after depositing nanowire solution on a substrate. Importantly, by mixing nanowires in solution we expect to substantially increase the probability for immunocomplex formation, as evidenced by almost complete capturing of viruses after overnight incubation. This approach, based on dynamic search for viruses in solution, gives the possibility to reach medically relevant detection level of 103 pfu/ml, which translates to just 5 bacteriophages in a test volume of 5 μl.