JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments
Microbiology
0 views • 2:14 min • July 31st, 2026
Start with a cuvette containing a purified, monodisperse suspension of virus-like particles in a buffer.
These particles contain the capsid, the protein shell of a virus, but they lack genetic material, making them non-infectious.
Place the cuvette in a dynamic light scattering (DLS) instrument that has been preheated to a target temperature.
Allow the sample to equilibrate briefly, then begin the measurements.
Heating causes the capsid proteins to denature. This structural change exposes hydrophobic regions that promote particle clustering and aggregation.
DLS directs a laser beam through the suspension and measures fluctuations in the scattered light caused by particle motion.
Smaller particles move faster and produce rapid fluctuations in the scattered light, while larger aggregates move more slowly and cause slower fluctuations.
DLS analyzes these fluctuations at regular intervals to track the particle aggregation in real time.
Create a new size standard operating procedure in the DLS instrument software as detailed in the text protocol. Select the run arrow within the software to open and name a new sample and allow the instrument to reach the temperature equilibrium.
Transfer the VLP
View the full transcript and gain access to thousands of scientific videos