All-optical, efficient fusion technology of biological cells incorporating near-IR laser beam manipulation and UV laser beam processing

Abstract

Various kinds of biological cell fusion techniques such as based on biological, chemical, and physical methods have been developed up to now, and they are widely used as essential means for basic research and applications in biotechnology and life sciences. However, whole cell damage associated with these fusion techniques is unavoidable because stimulations like high concentration polyethylene glycol and high voltage electric field are collectively applied. These collective treatments also do not make possible a fusion of specific cells that are desired for particular purposes. As an alternative to these techniques, the laser- induced fusion scheme realizing a one-to- one fusion of desired cells in an enclosed and safe chamber, with cell damage limited to a small region irradiated by the laser pulse, has been studied and developed by some groups including us.1,2