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.
Citation
Corsetti , S & Dholakia , K 2021 , ' Optical manipulation : advances for biophotonics in the 21st century ' , Journal of Biomedical Optics , vol. 26 , no. 7 , 070602 . https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.26.7.070602
Publication
Journal of Biomedical Optics
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1083-3668Type
Journal article
Description
We thank the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for funding (Grant Nos. EP/P030017/1 and EP/R004854/1).Collections
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