title: Fiber-optic spanner.
abstract: Methods of controllable, noncontact rotation of optically trapped microscopic objects have garnered significant attention for tomographic imaging and microfluidic actuation. Here, we report development of a fiber-optic spanner and demonstrate controlled rotation of smooth muscle cells. The rotation is realized by introducing a transverse offset between two counterpropagating beams emanating from single-mode optical fibers. The rotation speed and surrounding microfluidic flow could be controlled by varying balanced laser beam powers. Further, we demonstrate simultaneous translation and rotation of the fiber-optically trapped cell by varying the laser power of one fiber-optic arm.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics and Physiology Group, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas 76019, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Samarendra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
mesh_terms: D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D016764:Cell Polarity; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D012399:Rotation