title: Use of tapered amplifier diode laser for biological-friendly high-resolution optical trapping.
abstract: A 1064 nm laser is commonly used for biological optical trapping. However, it has the problem of generating reactive oxygen species in the presence of a sensitizer, which leads to photo damage in biological samples. Here we constructed optical tweezers using a tapered amplifier diode laser that operates at 830 nm. Compared to a 1064 nm laser, this laser is friendly to live cells, eliminates photo damage associated with reactive oxygen species, and allows simultaneous two-photon fluorescence imaging of green fluorescent proteins in live mammalian cells. All these advantages could significantly benefit future application of this single molecule technique in biological studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, 428 Church Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. chengwe@umich.edu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ximiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Fangmao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry; D055029:Inverted Repeat Sequences; D007834:Lasers; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D012313:RNA