Abstract:In this work, a preliminary study in the application of a laser trap for ionization of living carcinoma cells is presented. The study was conducted using BT20 breast carcinoma cells cultured and harvested in our laboratory. Each cell, for a total of 50 cells, was trapped and ionized by a high intensity infrared laser at 1064 nm. The threshold radiation dose and the resultant charge from the ionization for each cell were determined. With the laser trap serving as a radiation source, the cell underwent dielectric breakdown of the membrane. When this process occurs, the cell becomes highly charged and its dielectric susceptibility changes. The charge creates an increasing electrostatic force while the changing dielectric susceptibility diminishes the strength of the trapping force. Consequently, at some instant of time the cell gets ejected from the trap. The time inside the trap while the cell is being ionized, the intensity of the radiation, and the post ionization trajectory of the cell were used to determine the threshold radiation dose and the charge for each cell. The measurement of the charge vs ionization radiation dose at single cell level could be useful in the accuracy of radiotherapy as the individual charges can collectively create a strong enough electrical interaction to cause dielectric breakdown in other cells in a tumor.

The size of the CEST contrast is determined by the ratio between the exchangeable protons and the bulk water protons present in the tissue of interest. If hyperpolarized (HP) nuclei are used for

All hemoglobin (Hb) types have a variable net negative charge which may cause normal and sickle cell red blood cells (RBCs) to have different mechanical properties. Here, we present a laser trapping (LT) technique for single cell ionization of RBCs with Hb C trait. The hemoglobin quantitation, conducted using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), reported both Hb A and Hb C. Single RBCs were trapped and ionized by a high intensity infrared laser. The ionization energy, the charge per cell, and their relations to the size of the cells were studied. The results indicate an increase of these quantities with increase of RBC size, which is in agreement with the observations made in BT20 cells.

An approach to an established technique that is potentially applicable for a more comprehensive understanding of the electrical properties of red blood cells (RBCs) is presented. Using a high-intensity gradient laser trap, RBCs can be singly trapped and consequentially ionized. The subsequent dynamics of the ionized cell allows one to calculate the charge developed and the ionization energy (IE) through a Newtonian-based analysis. RBCs with two different hemoglobin (Hb) types were ionized. The first sample was identified as carrying Hb HbAA (normal Hb) and the second one was identified as carrying HbAC (HbC trait). By analyzing the charge developed on each cell and several other related factors, we were able to discern a difference between the main Hb types contained within the individual RBC, independent of cell size. A relationship between the charge developed and the IE of the cell was also established based on the electrical properties of RBCs. Thus, we present this laser trapping technique as a study of the electrical properties of RBCs and as possible biomedical tool to be used for the differentiation of Hb types.