HACF-based optical tweezers available for living cells manipulating and sterile transporting

Yu Zhang, Yan Li, Yaxun Zhang, Chuanzhen Hu, Zhihai Liu, Xinghua Yang, Jianzhong, Zhang, Jun Yang, Libo Yuan

We propose and demonstrate a single fiber optical tweezers based on a hollow annular-core fiber (HACF), which is available for living cells manipulating and sterile transporting due to the hollow structure, there exists a fluidic channel in the fiber, which is naturally a microfluidic passageway in the fluidic environment, both the optical trapping forces (OTF) and the liquid viscous resistances (LVR) play the important roles. We perform the particles manipulating and transporting by adjusting and controlling the net forces of OTF and LVR. We employ the fiber grinding–polishing technology to fabricate the HACF probe, producing the OTFs. We employ the micropump to perform the positive or negative pressure in the hollow hole of the HACF, changing the liquid velocity and direction, adjusting the LVRs. It is ideally suited for rare cells manipulating and sterile transporting. The implantation of the hollow hole and annular waveguide in a HACF provides the availability for particles manipulating and transporting, constitutes a new development for single fiber optical trapping and makes possible of more practical applications in particles manipulating and transporting fields.

DOI