Single Cell Control Based on Femtosecond Laser-induced Nonlinear Phenomena

Abstract

When a near-infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser is focused in water, several kinds of nonlinear phenomena, such as shockwave propagation, cavitation bubble generation, and jet flow, are induced in the vicinity of the laser focal point. Such phenomena are also induced by near-infrared nanosecond and picosecond lasers, but femtosecond irradiation allows a better localization. Moreover NIR femtosecond laser focussing permits to perform a local processing of cell and tissue because of its efficient multi-photon absorption and photo-mechanical ablation mechanism. In this study, the impulsive force generated in cell culture medium by these nonlinear phenomena was applied to individual control of single animal cells. Mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells cultured on a substrate were independently isolated by the impulsive force, and patterned by transferring them to another substrate. Furthermore nanoparticles and biological molecules are transfected to the cell by the local processing of the cell membrane. These demonstrations are promising for future femtosecond laser methodology for bioscience and biotechnology.