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Burdík M, Kužela T, Fojtů D, Elisek P, Hrnčiřík J, Jašek R, Ingr M. Optical Tweezers Apparatus Based on a Cost-Effective IR Laser-Hardware and Software Description. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:643. [PMID: 38276334 PMCID: PMC10818436 DOI: 10.3390/s24020643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Optical tweezers (OT), or optical traps, are a device for manipulating microscopic objects through a focused laser beam. They are used in various fields of physical and biophysical chemistry to identify the interactions between individual molecules and measure single-molecule forces. In this work, we describe the development of a homemade optical tweezers device based on a cost-effective IR diode laser, the hardware, and, in particular, the software controlling it. It allows us to control the instrument, calibrate it, and record and process the measured data. It includes the user interface design, peripherals control, recording, A/D conversion of the detector signals, evaluation of the calibration constants, and visualization of the results. Particular stress is put on the signal filtration from noise, where several methods were tested. The calibration experiments indicate a good sensitivity of the instrument that is thus ready to be used for various single-molecule measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Burdík
- Department of Informatics and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nad Stráněmi 4511, 760 05 Zlín, Czech Republic; (M.B.); (R.J.)
| | - Tomáš Kužela
- Department of Physics and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nám. T. G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (J.H.); (M.I.)
| | - Dušan Fojtů
- Department of Computer and Communication Systems, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nad Stráněmi 4511, 760 05 Zlín, Czech Republic;
| | - Petr Elisek
- Department of Physics and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nám. T. G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (J.H.); (M.I.)
| | - Josef Hrnčiřík
- Department of Physics and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nám. T. G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (J.H.); (M.I.)
| | - Roman Jašek
- Department of Informatics and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Applied Informatics, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nad Stráněmi 4511, 760 05 Zlín, Czech Republic; (M.B.); (R.J.)
| | - Marek Ingr
- Department of Physics and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Nám. T. G. Masaryka 5555, 760 01 Zlín, Czech Republic; (P.E.); (J.H.); (M.I.)
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Jackson DJ, Dawes BA, Kamenetska M. Simultaneous Force and Darkfield Measurements Reveal Solvent-Dependent Axial Control of Optically Trapped Gold Nanoparticles. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:2830-2836. [PMID: 36912824 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Single molecule force spectroscopy using optical tweezers (OT) has enabled nanoresolved measurements of dynamic biological processes but not of synthetic molecular mechanisms. Standard OT probes made from silica or polystyrene are incompatible with trapping in organic solvents for solution phase chemistry or with force-detected absorption spectroscopies. Here, we demonstrate optical trapping of gold nanoparticles in both aqueous and organic conditions using a custom OT and darkfield instrument which can uniquely measure force and scattering spectra of single gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) simultaneously. Our work reveals that standard models of trapping developed for aqueous conditions cannot account for the trends observed in different media here. We determine that higher pushing forces mitigate the increase in trapping force in higher index organic solvents and lead to axial displacement of the particle which can be controlled through trap intensity. This work develops a new model framework incorporating axial forces for understanding nanoparticle dynamics in an optical trap. These results establish the combined darkfield OT with Au NPs as an effective OT probe for single molecule and single particle spectroscopy experiments, with three-dimensional nanoscale control over NP location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Jackson
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Brian A Dawes
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Maria Kamenetska
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
- Division of Material Science and Engineering; Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
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Yeng MSM, Ayop SK, Sasaki K. Optical Manipulation of a Liquid Crystal (LC) Microdroplet by Optical Force. CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/crat.202200080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muhamad Safuan Mat Yeng
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics Sultan Idris Education University Tanjong Malim Perak 35900 Malaysia
| | - Shahrul Kadri Ayop
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics Sultan Idris Education University Tanjong Malim Perak 35900 Malaysia
| | - Keiji Sasaki
- Research Institute for Electronic Science Hokkaido University Sapporo 0010020 Japan
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