Optical manipulation: advances for biophotonics in the 21st century

Abstract

Significance: Optical trapping is a technique capable of applying minute forces that has been applied to studies spanning single molecules up to microorganisms.Aim: The goal of this perspective is to highlight some of the main advances in the last decade in this field that are pertinent for a biomedical audience.Approach: First, the direct determination of forces in optical tweezers and the combination of optical and acoustic traps, which allows studies across different length scales, are discussed. Then, a review of the progress made in the direct trapping of both single-molecules, and even single-viruses, and single cells with optical forces is outlined. Lastly, future directions for this methodology in biophotonics are discussed.Results: In the 21st century, optical manipulation has expanded its unique capabilities, enabling not only a more detailed study of single molecules and single cells but also of more complex living systems, giving us further insights into important biological activities.Conclusions: Optical forces have played a large role in the biomedical landscape leading to exceptional new biological breakthroughs. The continuous advances in the world of optical trapping will certainly lead to further exploitation, including exciting in-vivo experiments.

Limits of the adiabaticity assumption and conditions for improving laser focusing of atomic matter wave

“…[3][4][5]7 They have deep implications of great theoretical interests and, in addition, find numerous applications in diverse fields in chemistry, physics, biology, and informational technology. [8][9][10][11] Key ingredients in these matter-wave controls are the forces exerted by light on matter-the radiation pressure and the dipole forces. The former is a dissipative one and is limited by spontaneous emission (SE) rate and may be suppressed with large detunings.…”

“…The gradient of the optical potential is proportional to light intensity, so the strength of the force can be readily controlled. The dipole force has been extensively used for trapping, channeling, and focusing atoms, 7 and tweezers, 10 realizing the formation of a Bose-Einstein condensate optically. 13 Incidentally, Timp et al utilized it to construct a nanostructure with a series of parallel atomic peaks.…”

A novel methodology for detecting variations in RBCs surface antigens by cell-tearing using optical tweezers

“…Subsequently, the OT is now being used in the investigation of an increasing number of biochemical and biophysical processes [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]. After decades of developments, convenient commercial OT machines and automatic manipulation systems with microfluidic chips [34][35][36][37] are becoming available and popular.…”

A Novel Methodology for Detecting Variations in Cell Surface Antigens Using Cell-Tearing by Optical Tweezers

“…In 1989, direct trapping of a single cell using OT was reported in the pioneering works of Ashkin et al [ 22 ]. Subsequently, the OT is now being used in the investigation of an increasing number of biochemical and biophysical processes [ 23 ], including the manipulation of single cells [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Distinct advantages of using OT include non-contact cell manipulation, pN force accuracy, and amiability in liquid medium environments [ 26 ].…”