Optically-controlled platforms for transfection and single- and sub-cellular surgery

Abstract

Improving the resolution of biological research to the single-cell or sub-cellular level is of critical importance in a wide variety of processes and disease conditions. Most obvious are those linked to aging and cancer, many of which are dependent upon stochastic processes where individual, unpredictable failures or mutations in individual cells can lead to serious downstream conditions across the whole organism. The traditional tools of biochemistry struggle to observe such processes: the vast majority are based upon ensemble approaches analysing the properties of bulk populations, which means that details of individual constituents is lost. What are required, then, are tools with the precision and resolution to probe and dissect cells at the single-micron scale: the scale of the individual organelles and structures that control their function. In this review, we highlight the use of highly-focused laser beams to create systems which provide precise control and specificity at the single-cell or even single-micron level. The intense focal points generated can directly interact with cells and cell membranes, which in conjunction with related modalities such as optical trapping provide a broad platform for the development of single-cell and sub-cellular surgery approaches. These highly tuneable tools have been demonstrated to deliver or remove material from cells of interest, and they can simultaneously excite fluorescent probes for imaging purposes or plasmonic structures for very local heating. We discuss both the history and recent applications of the field, highlighting the key findings and developments over the last 40 years of biophotonics research.

Strategies for Optical Trapping in Biological Samples: Aiming at Microrobotic Surgeons

“…Presently, optical trapping is employed as a tool for a wide range of experiments of biological relevance. Some of the biological applications of optical trapping methods were reviewed by Fazal and Block and by Villangca et al . Optical trapping for biosensing was recently reviewed by Rodríguez–Sevilla et al .…”

“…Presently, optical trapping is employed as a tool for a wide range of experiments of biological relevance. Some of the biological applications of optical trapping methods were reviewed by Fazal and Block [118] and by Villangca et al [119] Optical trapping for biosensing was recently reviewed by Rodríguez-Sevilla et al [120] The most widespread applications of optical trapping in biology are briefly discussed in the following sections and shown schematically in Reproduced with permission. [126] Copyright 2005, Springer Nature.…”

Rational design of light-controlled microrobots

“…Sculpting the object is of particular importance for developing microrobots tailored to specific tasks at the microscale 39 . Including spherical "wheels" or "handles" as part of the microrobot design facilitates optical trapping in the Mie regime when the size of the trapped spheres is significantly larger than the wavelength of the trapping beam 40 . The size and number of such "handles" are two of the design parameters to be taken into account in the design.…”

Light robotics: an all-optical nano- and micro-toolbox

“…joystick-controlled and provide the user a feeling of stretching his/her hands directly into and interacting with the biologic micro-environment. Light-guiding micro-robotic tools can be 3D-fabricated so that targeted and real-time coupled light [11][12][13][14][15][16] can be used as near-field irradiating and receiving nano-torchs i.e. Figure 4 below.…”