New Optical Micro-manipulator and Micro-rotator

描述(申请人提供)：对单个微米和纳米颗粒的非侵入性操作是基础生物学研究的重要工具。它允许细胞、细胞组件和经过生化标签处理的合成标记颗粒被收集、分离、浓缩和运输，而不会损坏对象本身。在各种非侵入性操作机制中，一个理想的机制是除了捕获和移动生物细胞外，还能够控制生物细胞的方向。这种能力为构建结构化生物材料打开了大门，这些材料在构建生物膜和人体组织工程方面具有潜在应用。在这个方案中，我们提出了一种利用光的偏振来进行生物细胞的光学操纵和旋转的新方法。除了通过扫描光束实现灵活的操纵外，与传统的光钳相比，该方法有望实现精细的定向控制和较低的光强要求。偏振控制器是所提出的系统中的一个关键元件。因此，除了对所提出的方法进行概念验证外，我们还计划利用MEMS(微机电系统)技术制造微偏振控制器，作为迈向微仪器的第一步。该微偏振控制器预计将达到微秒级的响应时间，并且与商用偏振控制器相比体积小得多。在提出的为期两年的R21计划中，我们希望实现以下具体目标：1)对所提出的生物细胞光学微操作器和微旋转器进行建模和仿真。2)非对称微纳粒子方法的概念论证。3)MEMS偏振控制器的设计、制作和测试。拟议计划的成功将导致一个持续的研究计划，在该计划中，将建立最终的光学操纵和旋转系统，并将研究特定的生物应用，如组织工程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Non-invasive manipulation of single micro- and nano-sized particles is an important tool for basic biological research. It allows cells, cellular components, and synthetic marker particles treated with biochemical tags to be collected, separated, concentrated, and transported without damage to the objects themselves. Among various non-invasive manipulation mechanisms, a desirable one is the ability to control the orientation of the biological cells, in addition to trapping and moving them. Such capability opens the door to building structured biomaterials for potential applications in constructing biofilms and human tissue engineering. In this proposal, we propose a new approach for optical manipulation and rotation of biological cells that utilizes polarization of light. In addition to flexible manipulation by scanning of the optical beam, the proposed approach is expected to achieve fine orientation control and low optical-intensity requirement compared to conventional optical tweezers. One critical element in the proposed system is the polarization controller. Therefore, in addition to proof-of-concept demonstration for the proposed method, we also plan to fabricate a micro-polarization controller by MEMS (Micro-electro-mechanical system) technology as the first step towards micro-instrumentation. The micro-polarization controller is expected to achieve micro-second response time and occupies substantially smaller volume compared to commercial polarization controllers. In the proposed two-year R21 program, we expect to achieve the following specific aims: 1) Modeling and simulation for the proposed optical micro-manipulator and micro-rotator with biological cells. 2) Proof-of concept demonstration of the proposed approach with asymmetrical micro/nano particles. 3) Design, fabrication, and testing of the MEMS polarization controller. The success of the proposed program will lead to a continuing research program, where the final system for optical manipulation and rotation will be built, and specific biological applications, such as tissue engineering, will be studied.