Manipulation Of Micro Research Articles

Optically Controlled Cell Discrimination and Trapping Using Optoelectronic Tweezers

Optoelectronic tweezers (OET) provide a powerful tool for the manipulation of micro- and nanoparticles. The OET device produces an optically controlled dielectrophoretic force, allowing complex dynamic manipulation patterns using light intensities up to 100 000 times lower than that of optical tweezers. Using OET, we demonstrate the separation of live and dead human B cells, and the separation of HeLa and Jurkat cells. We also present, for the first time, a modified single-sided OET device that promises to facilitate the integration of OET and microfluidics. Unlike standard OET, this single-sided OET device produces electric fields that are oriented parallel to the plane of the device. We demonstrate the manipulation of polystyrene beads using this new single-sided OET device, and discuss its capabilities

Radiation torque on nonspherical particles in the transition matrix formalism

The torque exerted by radiation on small particles is recognized to have a considerable relevance, e.g., on the dynamics of cosmic dust grains and for the manipulation of micro and nanoparticles under controlled conditions. In the present paper we derive, in the transition matrix formalism, the radiation torque applied by a plane polarized wave on nonspherical particles. In case of circularly polarized waves impinging on spherical particles our equations reproduce the findings of Marston and Crichton [Phys. Rev. A 30, 2508-2516 (1984)]. Our equations were applied to calculate the torque on a few model particles shaped as aggregates of identical spheres, both axially symmetric and lacking any symmetry, and the conditions for the stability of the induced rotational motion are discussed.

Electro-thermally actuated microgrippers with integrated force-feedback

Microfabricated grippers and tweezers are promising tools for manipulation of micro- and nanoscale objects. As with ordinary macroscale grippers, the ability to sense the forces involved in grabbing would be advantageous for controlling the operation as well as for measuring the mechanical properties of the grabbed object. A simple design is presented for an electro-thermally actuated microfabricated gripper capable of providing a piezoresistive read-out of the gripper deflection, which can be used to measure the forces applied to the grabbed object. Measurements of actuation of test devices are presented and found to be in reasonable agreement with expected values. Finally, piezoresistive measurements of the gripper deflection are demonstrated.

EVOLUTION OF AN ARTIFICIAL SEAWATER MEDIUM: IMPROVEMENTS IN ENRICHED SEAWATER, ARTIFICIAL WATER OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES

Although most phycologists use natural seawater for culturing marine species, artificial media continue to play important roles in overcoming problems of supply and seasonal variability in the quality of natural seawater and also for experiments involving manipulation of micro‐ and macronutrients. Several artificial media have been developed over the last 90 years; enriched seawater, artificial water (ESAW) is among the more popular recipes. ESAW has the advantage of an ionic balance that is somewhat closer to that of normal seawater. The original paper compared the growth of 83 strains of microalgae in natural seawater (ESNW) versus ESAW and determined that 23% grew more poorly in the artificial water. Since 1980, however, the composition of ESAW, as used by the original authors, has changed considerably. In particular, the added forms of phosphate, iron, and silicate have been changed and the trace metal mixture has been altered to include nickel, molybdenum, and selenium. We tested whether these changes improved the ability of the artificial medium to grow previously difficult to grow phytoplankton species. To test this, we selected eight species that had been shown to grow better in ESNW than in ESAW and compared their growth again, using the currently used recipe with all the above modifications. For all but one species (Apedinella spinifera), growth rate and final yield was no different between the media but in one case (Emiliania huxleyi) was slightly higher in ESAW. No differences in cell morphology or volume were found in any case. We conclude that changes to the enrichment portion of the recipe have significantly improved this artificial seawater medium and that it can be used to grow an even wider range of coastal and open ocean species.

Fabricación de electrodos para control de transporte y alineamiento a micro y nanoescalas usando técnicas bottom-up y top-down

El continuo avance de aplicaciones en dispositivos de autoensamble, posicionamiento, sensores, actuadores, y que permitan controladamente la manipulación de micro y nanoestructuras, han generado amplio interés en el desarrollo de metodologías que permitan optimizar la fabricación de dispositivos para el control y manipulación a micro y nanoescalas. Este proyecto explora técnicas de fabricación de electrodos con el fin de encontrar una técnica óptima y reproducible. Se compara el rendimiento de cada técnica y se describen protocolos de limpieza y seguridad. Se diseñan e implementan tres geometrías para movilizar y posicionar micro y nanopartículas de hierro en una solución de aceite natural. Finalmente se generan campos eléctricos a partir de electroforesis, con el fin de encontrar la curva que describe el desplazamiento de las partículas con respecto al potencial aplicado. Estos resultados generan gran impacto en los actuales esfuerzos de fabricación bottom-up (controlando con campos la ubicación) y la movilidad en dispositivos electrónicos. El hecho de fabricar geometría planar con electrodos genera la posibilidad de que se pueda integrar movimiento de partículas a los circuitos integrados que se fabrican en la actualidad.