Microcavity single virus detection and sizing with molecular sensitivity

We report the label-free detection and sizing of the smallest individual RNA virus, MS2 by a spherical microcavity. Mass of this virus is 6 ag and produces a theoretical resonance shift similar to 0.25 fm upon adsorbing an individual virus at the equator of the bare microcavity, which is well below the r. m. s background noise of 2 fm. However, detection was accomplished with ease (S/N = 8, Q = 4x10 5) using a single dipole stimulated plasmonic-nanoshell as a microcavity wavelength shift enhancer. Analytical expressions based on the reactive sensing principle are developed to extract the radius of the virus from the measured signals. Estimated limit of detection for these experiments was 0.4 ag or 240 kDa below the size of all known viruses, largest globular and elongated proteins [ Phosphofructokinase (345 kDa) and Fibrinogen (390 kDa), respectively].