Multimodal label-free nanosensor for single virus characterization
Official title: Multimodal Label-Free Nanosensor for Single Virus Characterization and Content Analysis
Funded at Southern Methodist University · NIH-11404996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new sensor is being developed to detect and analyze individual AAV virus particles to ensure accurate cargo content before they are used in therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southern Methodist University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $401,745 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM149949-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient enrollment in this grant; the work is focused on technology development for improving product quality and safety of viral therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients may not directly benefit from participation in this study as it is a method-development project on virus characterization.
What this research studies
This project aims to combine a plasmonic nanopore sensor with optical trapping to study single AAV virus particles as they pass through nanopores. The approach includes automatically recapturing viruses after translocation and using a tandem electrical-optical system to classify viruses by their cargo content. The research will characterize how AAVs deform during translocation, enable automated recapture, and develop robust content-based classification to improve quality control for virus-based therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the technique could improve safety and consistency of AAV-based therapies by providing precise cargo-content analysis at the single-particle level.
How similar studies have gone: Previous methods exist but show high variability; this project aims to offer a more accurate, automated approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Southern Methodist University
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Minjun — Southern Methodist University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Minjun
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.