Bursting the Viral Capsid

This is a speculative method for bursting open assembled viral capsids, even those inside a human cell, in order to destroy the virion.

It has been calculated that, for many viruses, the internal pressure inside the capsid is around 60 atmospheres. The viral DNA is squeezed in so tightly that it actually assumes a crystalline form. References: 1 2

Immediate thoughts that come to my mind are:

(a) Can we somehow further raise this internal pressure, so as to burst the capsid?
(b) And, if so, at what pressure will the capsid burst?

The answer to (b) is known: a capsid will certainly burst at when the pressure inside it is 100 atmospheres greater than that outside. This data comes from calculation on the standard method of rupturing capsids, osmotic shock. References: 1

OK, so how can we raise the pressure inside the capsid in vivo, so that it ruptures? Osmotic shock is probably out, since it is unlikely that we can radically alter salt and solute levels in the body, and even if we could, the osmotic shock generated might cause the rupture healthy cells rather than capsids.

What about heat? Can we somehow apply heat to the crystalline DNA within the capsid? If the crystalline DNA were electrically conductive, then the application of an electromagnetic field would induce eddy currents within the capsid, which would heat up the DNA, thus raising the capsid internal pressure, which at a certain point will precipitate rupture. But crystalline DNA is probably not sufficiently electrically conductive. However, it might be possible to somehow dope the crystalline DNA with some material to turn it into a semiconductor, much in the same way that silicon crystals are turned into semiconducting transistors by adding a doping chemical (usually Boron).

Assuming it is possible to make crystalline DNA semiconductive, then the application of a suitable electromagnetic field (eg: radiofrequency waves) to a virally infected patient would then heat up the (now conducting) DNA inside all the viral capsids in his body, raising the capsids’ internal pressures and rupturing them. This will effective destroy all the virions in vivo.

The problem is how to dope the DNA so as to make it electrically conductive or semiconductive. One trick might be to develop a nucleoside analog that modifies the DNA such that when the DNA assumes crystalline form (and only then), this DNA becomes semiconductive. Thus, once this nucleoside analog is given to the patient, the viral DNA (but not the nuclear DNA) in his body becomes semiconductive, and thus an externally applied electromagnetic field may be able to heat it, and so rapidly burst the virions inside his body.

Perhaps there are other ways of transferring heat to the crystalline DNA in the capsid interior? Are there any materials scientists with crystallography expertise than may offer a suggestion?

Alternatively, how about this: could a nucleoside analog be developed that operates normally during regular human cellular functioning, such as cell division and replication, but automatically disintegrates the DNA as soon as conditions of high pressure, such the 60 atmospheres found within the viral capsid, are encountered? With such pressure-sensitive DNA molecular disintegration, very few viable virions would be produced. More importantly, this type of nucleoside analog would serve as a universal antiviral, working for any DNA virus that has these high pressures inside their capsids.

These ideas are offered to stimulate the imagination. I hope they inspire further lateral thinking, so that you may come up with some more creative, practicable methods on eliminating viruses from the body.

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