A recent study published in the Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids has found that the structure of the coronavirus may be vulnerable to the vibrations of ultrasound with frequencies commonly used in medical Diagnostics imagining. Just like the ones here at Hollywood Diagnosticss Center. The research was conducted by investigators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Although the structure of the coronavirus is well understood, there is not much known about its physical integrity or the make-up of its spike protein.
Investigators behind the study used computer simulations to model the virus’s mechanical response to a range of vibration frequencies of an ultrasound. They then observed how the vibrations rippled through the virus’s structure and used this information to determine the shell’s natural vibrating frequency.
Through this, they estimated the natural frequency to be 100 megahertz or 100 million cycles per second. When they exposed the virus to these vibrations, they saw that the shell and spike proteins began to buckle inward.
As they increased the intensity of the vibrations, the shell began to fracture, an acoustic phenomenon known as resonance. Additionally, when they lowered the frequencies to between 25 and 50 MHz, they discovered that the virus’s shell buckled and fractured even more quickly. They occurred in both simulated environments of air and water that is similar to the density found in bodily fluids.
Although promising, the investigators stress that much more research needs to be done in order to confirm if this can be an effective treatment.
“We’ve proven that under ultrasound excitation the coronavirus shell and spikes will vibrate, and the amplitude of that vibration will be very large, producing strains that could break certain parts of the virus, doing visible damage to the outer shell and possibly invisible damage to the RNA inside,” Wierzbicki said. “The hope is that our paper will initiate a discussion across various disciplines.”
If you live in Hollywood, Florida, or the South Florida area in general, and are in need of any medical imaging, like an ultrasound, then call the Hollywood Diagnostics Center today! Our medical professionals are ready and willing to help you through these difficult and trying times. All of the staff within is friendly and ready to answer any questions you have regarding any medical imaging technologies and procedures being taken during the public health emergency. Call the Hollywood Diagnostics Center at Phone: (954) 966-3600 (Option 2) or email us at RX@HDC1984.com today!