The invention provides a method of reducing viral infectivity in a sample comprising contacting the sample with a earner matrix wherein lipids are attached to the carrier matrix, and wherein at least one virus-specific agent is attached to the lipids The virus-specific agent is capable of binding to at least one viral component The virus specific agent may be a receptor The earner matrix may be a silica particle, which may be coated with a lipid bilayer The invention further provides a method of inactivating a virus comprising contacting the virus with a earner matrix wherein lipids are attached to the earner matrix, and wherein at least one receptor is attached to the lipids, binding the receptor to at least one viral receptor-binding protein, and activating at least one viral fusion protein, wherein activation inactivates the virus, and releases the virus from the earner matrix.