New acoustic tweezers isolate viruses from saliva with high precision

Researchers have devised a method that uses sound waves to isolate viruses from saliva, enhancing the development of vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. The Bessel beam excitation separation technology (BEST) platform, which leverages acoustic ‘tweezers’, has proven effective in isolating 90% of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material from complex human saliva samples, offering a more efficient alternative to current time-consuming procedures. The team is now looking to refine the technology’s capabilities for smaller viruses.