title: Parallel analysis of individual biological cells using multifocal laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy.
abstract: We report on the development and characterization of a multifocal laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (M-LTRS) technique for parallel Raman spectral acquisition of individual biological cells. Using a 785-nm diode laser and a time-sharing laser trapping scheme, multiple laser foci are generated to optically trap single polystyrene beads and suspension cells in a linear pattern. Raman signals from the trapped objects are simultaneously projected through the slit of a spectrometer and spatially resolved on a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector with minimal signal crosstalk between neighboring cells. By improving the rate of single-cell analysis, M-LTRS is expected to be a valuable method for studying single-cell dynamics of cell populations and for the development of high-throughput Raman based cytometers.
authors.affiliation: NSF Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008863:Microspheres; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*