Ultrasound effectively destabilizes and disrupts the structural integrity of enveloped respiratory viruses

This study demonstrates that high-frequency ultrasound (3-20 MHz) can effectively disrupt the structural integrity of both Influenza A virus (H1N1) and SARS-CoV-2 through a resonance-driven mechanism distinct from classical cavitation (kHz range). Under these conditions, viral particles undergo pronounced alterations (fragmentation, envelope rupture, and loss of morphological uniformity) consistent with direct mechanical destabilization rather than thermal or bubble-mediated effects. Detailed structural analyses revealed significant disruption of the viral envelope, accompanied by measurable shifts in particle size distribution and reduced diameters, indicative of resonance-induced fragmentation. These structural modifications were paralleled by biological consequences: SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was markedly reduced in vitro, with infected cells exhibiting substantially lower viral loads. Importantly, this work provides the first experimental evidence that acoustic resonance can directly couple with viral structural components, inducing selective mechanical destabilization of the envelope. The convergence of structural and functional data supports the view that this represents a previously undescribed biophysical phenomenon, fundamentally distinct from cavitation. This resonance-mediated destabilization highlights a novel, non-invasive, and broad-spectrum antiviral strategy that differs from cavitation, more suited to asepsis and sterilization, and offers a therapeutic approach with potential applications against enveloped respiratory viruses and other clinically relevant pathogens.