title: Raman Spectroscopy of Optically Trapped Single Biological Micro-Particles.
abstract: The combination of optical trapping with Raman spectroscopy provides a powerful method for the study, characterization, and identification of biological micro-particles. In essence, optical trapping helps to overcome the limitation imposed by the relative inefficiency of the Raman scattering process. This allows Raman spectroscopy to be applied to individual biological particles in air and in liquid, providing the potential for particle identification with high specificity, longitudinal studies of changes in particle composition, and characterization of the heterogeneity of individual particles in a population. In this review, we introduce the techniques used to integrate Raman spectroscopy with optical trapping in order to study individual biological particles in liquid and air. We then provide an overview of some of the most promising applications of this technique, highlighting the unique types of measurements enabled by the combination of Raman spectroscopy with optical trapping. Finally, we present a brief discussion of future research directions in the field.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA. redding.brandon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Redding
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA. mark.schwab@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783, USA. yongle.pan.civ@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Yong-le
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D044085:Microfluidics; D052898:Optical Tweezers; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Raman spectroscopy; bioaerosols; optical trapping