Trung Thai Dinh, Khoa Doan Quoc, Kien Bui Xuan, Quy Ho Quang
The approximate expressions describing the redistribution of laser beam and optical forces in Kerr fluid, and the ratio of refractive indexes basing on the optical Kerr effect in fluid are derived. Basing on them, the dynamic of nonlinear bead in the nonlinear fluid is simulated by the finite different Langevin equation in presence of the optical Kerr and self-focused effects. The radial and axial control processes of bead linking to λ-phage WLC DNA molecule in fluid space are numerically observed by calibration of the laser power under and upper the critical value, respectively. The stable position-laser power characteristics are numerically found out. Based on the results, a sample of single-beam optical tweezers for 3D (axial and radial) control of bead is proposed and discussed.
DOI
Friday, December 9, 2016
Automated Transportation of Multiple Cell Types Using a Robot-Aided Cell Manipulation System with Holographic Optical Tweezers
Songyu Hu ; Shuxun Chen ; Si Chen ; Gang Xu ; Dong Sun
Transferring multiple cell types with high precision and efficiency has become increasingly important as developing cell-based assays. In this study, an enable technology is proposed for simultaneous automated transportation of multiple cell types utilizing a robot-aided cell manipulation system equipped with holographic optical tweezers. The dynamics of trapped cell is initially analyzed. A control constraint is introduced to confine the offset of cells within the optical trap to prevent cells from escaping the trap during transportation. Unlike existing methods determining the critical offset through manual calibration for only a particular cell type, this proposed approach can automatically derive and apply the control constraint to multiple cell types with different radii. A controller is then developed for automated transportation of multiple cell types with different sizes in which exact values of model parameters, such as trapping stiffness and drag coefficient, are not required. Experiments are finally performed on the transportation of yeast cells and osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
DOI
Transferring multiple cell types with high precision and efficiency has become increasingly important as developing cell-based assays. In this study, an enable technology is proposed for simultaneous automated transportation of multiple cell types utilizing a robot-aided cell manipulation system equipped with holographic optical tweezers. The dynamics of trapped cell is initially analyzed. A control constraint is introduced to confine the offset of cells within the optical trap to prevent cells from escaping the trap during transportation. Unlike existing methods determining the critical offset through manual calibration for only a particular cell type, this proposed approach can automatically derive and apply the control constraint to multiple cell types with different radii. A controller is then developed for automated transportation of multiple cell types with different sizes in which exact values of model parameters, such as trapping stiffness and drag coefficient, are not required. Experiments are finally performed on the transportation of yeast cells and osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
DOI
Towards nano-optical tweezers with graphene plasmons: Numerical investigation of trapping 10-nm particles with mid-infrared light
Jianfa Zhang, Wenbin Liu, Zhihong Zhu, Xiaodong Yuan & Shiqiao Qin
Graphene plasmons are rapidly emerging as a versatile platform for manipulating light at the deep subwavelength scale. Here we show numerically that strong optical near-field forces can be generated under the illumination of mid-IR light when dielectric nanoparticles are located in the vicinity of a nanostructured graphene film. These near-field forces are attributed to the excitation of the graphene’s plasmonic mode. The optical forces can generate an efficient optical trapping potential for a 10-nm-diameter dielectric particle when the light intensity is only about about 4.4 mW/μm2 and provide possibilities for a new type of plasmonic nano-tweezers. Graphene plasmonic tweezers can be potentially exploited for optical manipulation of nanometric biomolecules and particles. Moreover, the optical trapping/tweezing can be combined with biosensing and provide a versatile platform for studing biology and chemistry with mid-IR light.
DOI
Graphene plasmons are rapidly emerging as a versatile platform for manipulating light at the deep subwavelength scale. Here we show numerically that strong optical near-field forces can be generated under the illumination of mid-IR light when dielectric nanoparticles are located in the vicinity of a nanostructured graphene film. These near-field forces are attributed to the excitation of the graphene’s plasmonic mode. The optical forces can generate an efficient optical trapping potential for a 10-nm-diameter dielectric particle when the light intensity is only about about 4.4 mW/μm2 and provide possibilities for a new type of plasmonic nano-tweezers. Graphene plasmonic tweezers can be potentially exploited for optical manipulation of nanometric biomolecules and particles. Moreover, the optical trapping/tweezing can be combined with biosensing and provide a versatile platform for studing biology and chemistry with mid-IR light.
DOI
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Stability, folding dynamics, and long-range conformational transition of the synaptic t-SNARE complex
Xinming Zhang, Aleksander A. Rebane, Lu Ma, Feng Li, Junyi Jiao, Hong Qu, Frederic Pincet, James E. Rothman, and Yongli Zhang
Synaptic soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) couple their stepwise folding to fusion of synaptic vesicles with plasma membranes. In this process, three SNAREs assemble into a stable four-helix bundle. Arguably, the first and rate-limiting step of SNARE assembly is the formation of an activated binary target (t)-SNARE complex on the target plasma membrane, which then zippers with the vesicle (v)-SNARE on the vesicle to drive membrane fusion. However, the t-SNARE complex readily misfolds, and its structure, stability, and dynamics are elusive. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we modeled the synaptic t-SNARE complex as a parallel three-helix bundle with a small frayed C terminus. The helical bundle sequentially folded in an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD) separated by a central ionic layer, with total unfolding energy of ∼17 kBT, where kB is the Boltzmann constant and T is 300 K. Peptide binding to the CTD activated the t-SNARE complex to initiate NTD zippering with the v-SNARE, a mechanism likely shared by the mammalian uncoordinated-18-1 protein (Munc18-1). The NTD zippering then dramatically stabilized the CTD, facilitating further SNARE zippering. The subtle bidirectional t-SNARE conformational switch was mediated by the ionic layer. Thus, the t-SNARE complex acted as a switch to enable fast and controlled SNARE zippering required for synaptic vesicle fusion and neurotransmission.
DOI
Synaptic soluble N-ethylmaleimide–sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) couple their stepwise folding to fusion of synaptic vesicles with plasma membranes. In this process, three SNAREs assemble into a stable four-helix bundle. Arguably, the first and rate-limiting step of SNARE assembly is the formation of an activated binary target (t)-SNARE complex on the target plasma membrane, which then zippers with the vesicle (v)-SNARE on the vesicle to drive membrane fusion. However, the t-SNARE complex readily misfolds, and its structure, stability, and dynamics are elusive. Using single-molecule force spectroscopy, we modeled the synaptic t-SNARE complex as a parallel three-helix bundle with a small frayed C terminus. The helical bundle sequentially folded in an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD) separated by a central ionic layer, with total unfolding energy of ∼17 kBT, where kB is the Boltzmann constant and T is 300 K. Peptide binding to the CTD activated the t-SNARE complex to initiate NTD zippering with the v-SNARE, a mechanism likely shared by the mammalian uncoordinated-18-1 protein (Munc18-1). The NTD zippering then dramatically stabilized the CTD, facilitating further SNARE zippering. The subtle bidirectional t-SNARE conformational switch was mediated by the ionic layer. Thus, the t-SNARE complex acted as a switch to enable fast and controlled SNARE zippering required for synaptic vesicle fusion and neurotransmission.
DOI
From Surface Protrusion to Tether Extraction: A Mechanistic Model
Jin-Yu Shao, Yan Yu, and Sara J Oswald
Human leukocyte rolling on the endothelium is essential for leukocyte emigration and it is a process regulated by many factors including shear stress, receptor-ligand kinetics, and mechanical properties of cells and molecules. During this process, both leukocytes and endothelial cells (ECs) are pulled by forces due to blood flow and both may experience surface protrusion and tether extraction. In this study, we established a two-scale (cellular and molecular) model of cellular deformation due to a point pulling force and illustrated how surface protrusion makes the transition to tether extraction, either gradually or abruptly. Our simulation results matched well with what was observed in the experiments conducted with the optical trap and the atomic force microscope. We found that, although the traditional method of determining the force loading rate and the protrusional stiffness were still reasonable, the crossover force should not be simply interpreted as the rupture force of the receptor-cytoskeleton linkage. With little modification, this model can be incorporated into any leukocyte rolling model as a module for more accurate and realistic simulation.
DOI
Human leukocyte rolling on the endothelium is essential for leukocyte emigration and it is a process regulated by many factors including shear stress, receptor-ligand kinetics, and mechanical properties of cells and molecules. During this process, both leukocytes and endothelial cells (ECs) are pulled by forces due to blood flow and both may experience surface protrusion and tether extraction. In this study, we established a two-scale (cellular and molecular) model of cellular deformation due to a point pulling force and illustrated how surface protrusion makes the transition to tether extraction, either gradually or abruptly. Our simulation results matched well with what was observed in the experiments conducted with the optical trap and the atomic force microscope. We found that, although the traditional method of determining the force loading rate and the protrusional stiffness were still reasonable, the crossover force should not be simply interpreted as the rupture force of the receptor-cytoskeleton linkage. With little modification, this model can be incorporated into any leukocyte rolling model as a module for more accurate and realistic simulation.
DOI
Theory of optical-tweezers forces near a plane interface
R. S. Dutra, P. A. Maia Neto, H. M. Nussenzveig, and H. Flyvbjerg
Optical-tweezers experiments in molecular and cell biology often take place near the surface of the microscope slide that defines the bottom of the sample chamber. There, as elsewhere, force measurements require force-calibrated tweezers. In bulk, one can calculate the tweezers force from first principles, as recently demonstrated. Near the surface of the microscope slide, this absolute calibration method fails because it does not account for reverberations from the slide of the laser beam scattered by the trapped microsphere. Nor does it account for evanescent waves arising from total internal reflection of wide-angle components of the strongly focused beam. In the present work we account for both of these phenomena. We employ Weyl's angular spectrum representation of spherical waves in terms of real and complex rays and derive a fast-converging recursive series of multiple reflections that describes the reverberations, including also evanescent waves. Numerical simulations for typical setup parameters evaluate these effects on the optical force and trap stiffness, with emphasis on axial trapping. Results are in good agreement with available experimental data. Thus, absolute calibration now applies to all situations encountered in practice.
DOI
Optical-tweezers experiments in molecular and cell biology often take place near the surface of the microscope slide that defines the bottom of the sample chamber. There, as elsewhere, force measurements require force-calibrated tweezers. In bulk, one can calculate the tweezers force from first principles, as recently demonstrated. Near the surface of the microscope slide, this absolute calibration method fails because it does not account for reverberations from the slide of the laser beam scattered by the trapped microsphere. Nor does it account for evanescent waves arising from total internal reflection of wide-angle components of the strongly focused beam. In the present work we account for both of these phenomena. We employ Weyl's angular spectrum representation of spherical waves in terms of real and complex rays and derive a fast-converging recursive series of multiple reflections that describes the reverberations, including also evanescent waves. Numerical simulations for typical setup parameters evaluate these effects on the optical force and trap stiffness, with emphasis on axial trapping. Results are in good agreement with available experimental data. Thus, absolute calibration now applies to all situations encountered in practice.
DOI
Out-of-equilibrium force measurements of dual-fiber optical tweezers
Jochen Fick
Optical trapping of micron-size dielectric particles in a dual-fiber tip configuration is presented. Trap oscillation and suspension flow experiments are performed to investigate the linearity of the optical forces. These measurements are completed by standard methods such as Boltzmann statistics or power spectra evaluation. Strong trapping efficiencies of 0.25 and 1.8 pN·μm−11.8 pN·μm−1 have been found in the axial and transverse directions, respectively. The values obtained by the different approaches are in good agreement. The measurements show that the optical trapping potential is harmonic over the experimentally attainable distances, i.e., 2.5 and 0.6 μm in the transverse and axial directions, respectively.
DOI
Optical trapping of micron-size dielectric particles in a dual-fiber tip configuration is presented. Trap oscillation and suspension flow experiments are performed to investigate the linearity of the optical forces. These measurements are completed by standard methods such as Boltzmann statistics or power spectra evaluation. Strong trapping efficiencies of 0.25 and 1.8 pN·μm−11.8 pN·μm−1 have been found in the axial and transverse directions, respectively. The values obtained by the different approaches are in good agreement. The measurements show that the optical trapping potential is harmonic over the experimentally attainable distances, i.e., 2.5 and 0.6 μm in the transverse and axial directions, respectively.
DOI
Friday, December 2, 2016
Direct imaging of a digital-micromirror device for configurable microscopic optical potentials
G. Gauthier, I. Lenton, N. McKay Parry, M. Baker, M. J. Davis, H. Rubinsztein-Dunlop, and T. W. Neely
Programmable spatial light modulators have significantly advanced the configurable optical trapping of particles. Typically, these devices are utilized in the Fourier plane of an optical system, but direct imaging of an amplitude pattern can potentially result in increased simplicity and computational speed. Here we demonstrate high-resolution direct imaging of a digital micromirror device (DMD) at high numerical apertures (NAs), which we apply to the optical trapping of a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC). We utilize a (1200×19201200×1920) pixel DMD and commercially available 0.45 NA microscope objectives, finding that atoms confined in a hybrid optical/magnetic or all-optical potential can be patterned using repulsive blue-detuned (532 nm) light with 630(10) nm full width at half-maximum resolution, within 5% of the diffraction limit. The result is near arbitrary control of the density of the BEC without the need for expensive custom optics. We also introduce the technique of time-averaged DMD potentials, demonstrating the ability to produce multiple gray-scale levels with minimal heating of the atomic cloud, by utilizing the high switching speed (20 kHz maximum) of the DMD. These techniques will enable the realization and control of diverse optical potentials for superfluid dynamics and atomtronics applications with quantum gases. The performance of this system in a direct imaging configuration has wider application for optical trapping at non-trivial NAs.
DOI
Programmable spatial light modulators have significantly advanced the configurable optical trapping of particles. Typically, these devices are utilized in the Fourier plane of an optical system, but direct imaging of an amplitude pattern can potentially result in increased simplicity and computational speed. Here we demonstrate high-resolution direct imaging of a digital micromirror device (DMD) at high numerical apertures (NAs), which we apply to the optical trapping of a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC). We utilize a (1200×19201200×1920) pixel DMD and commercially available 0.45 NA microscope objectives, finding that atoms confined in a hybrid optical/magnetic or all-optical potential can be patterned using repulsive blue-detuned (532 nm) light with 630(10) nm full width at half-maximum resolution, within 5% of the diffraction limit. The result is near arbitrary control of the density of the BEC without the need for expensive custom optics. We also introduce the technique of time-averaged DMD potentials, demonstrating the ability to produce multiple gray-scale levels with minimal heating of the atomic cloud, by utilizing the high switching speed (20 kHz maximum) of the DMD. These techniques will enable the realization and control of diverse optical potentials for superfluid dynamics and atomtronics applications with quantum gases. The performance of this system in a direct imaging configuration has wider application for optical trapping at non-trivial NAs.
DOI
Tunable Fano resonant optical forces exerted on a graphene-coated dielectric particle by a Gaussian evanescent wave
Yang Yang, Xiaofu Zhang, Anping Huang and Zhisong Xiao
In this paper, we investigate the optical forces exerted on a graphene-coated dielectric particle by the Gaussian beam transmitted through the prism setup systematically. It is shown that the optical force spectra exhibit significant Fano resonance under the excitation of a Gaussian evanescent wave. The magnitude and morphology of Fano resonance can be modulated effectively by the graphene coating. Also, the modification on the threshold of the Fermi energy of graphene could help to regulate the trapping behavior efficiently. The proposed work may provide a new avenue in the specific optical tweezers and nano-optics.
DOI
In this paper, we investigate the optical forces exerted on a graphene-coated dielectric particle by the Gaussian beam transmitted through the prism setup systematically. It is shown that the optical force spectra exhibit significant Fano resonance under the excitation of a Gaussian evanescent wave. The magnitude and morphology of Fano resonance can be modulated effectively by the graphene coating. Also, the modification on the threshold of the Fermi energy of graphene could help to regulate the trapping behavior efficiently. The proposed work may provide a new avenue in the specific optical tweezers and nano-optics.
DOI
Real-time force measurement in double wavelength optical tweezers
Sławomir Drobczyński and Kamila Duś-szachniewicz
In optical tweezers, the trap stiffness varies across the sample area. To avoid this problem, the force measurement is often performed in a fixed place where the trap stiffness is well determined. However, for some experiments, bringing the sample to the fixed position is problematic. In this paper, we describe a precise and fast procedure for mapping the trap stiffness over the whole sample area. Such a map allows development of a real-time procedure for force measurement at any point of the sample area. The presented method is particularly suitable for measuring forces, for example, in living cells samples.
DOI
In optical tweezers, the trap stiffness varies across the sample area. To avoid this problem, the force measurement is often performed in a fixed place where the trap stiffness is well determined. However, for some experiments, bringing the sample to the fixed position is problematic. In this paper, we describe a precise and fast procedure for mapping the trap stiffness over the whole sample area. Such a map allows development of a real-time procedure for force measurement at any point of the sample area. The presented method is particularly suitable for measuring forces, for example, in living cells samples.
DOI
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