title: Development and validation of a nanometer manipulation and measurement system for biomechanical testing of single macro-molecules.
abstract: A biomechanical testing system for single macro-molecules has been developed using optical tweezers. To achieve nanometer manipulation and measurement, a piezo-stage and an interferometer were adopted. A systematic calibration was then performed on the displacement resolution. The piezo-stage has a noise level around 1 nm standard deviation, and the interferometer has a noise level of less than 5 nm standard deviation. The results revealed that the system has a nanometer resolution which is sufficient for the measurement of deformation and stiffness of single macro-molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic/Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002138:Calibration; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008857:Microscopy, Interference
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D003094:Collagen