title: Trapping and Detection of Nanoparticles and Cells Using a Parallel Photonic Nanojet Array.
abstract: In advanced nanoscience, there is a strong desire to trap and detect nanoscale objects with high-throughput, single-nanoparticle resolution and high selectivity. Although emerging optical methods have enabled the selective trapping and detection of multiple micrometer-sized objects, it remains a great challenge to extend this functionality to the nanoscale. Here, we report an approach to trap and detect nanoparticles and subwavelength cells at low optical power using a parallel photonic nanojet array produced by assembling microlenses on an optical fiber probe. Benefiting from the subwavelength confinement of the photonic nanojets, tens to hundreds of nanotraps were formed in three dimensions. Backscattering signals were detected in real time with single-nanoparticle resolution and enhancement factors of 10(3)-10(4). Selective trapping of nanoparticles and cells from a particle mixture or human blood solution was demonstrated using the nanojet array. The developed nanojet array is potentially a powerful tool for nanoparticle assembly, biosensing, single-cell analysis, and optical sorting.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Yuchao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Hongbao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoshuai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Hongxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University , Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Baojun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: nanoparticles; optical detection; optical trapping; photonic nanojets; subwavelength cells