New Optical Micro-manipulator and Micro-rotator

描述（由申请人提供）：单个微米和纳米尺寸颗粒的非侵入性操作是基础生物学研究的重要工具。它允许用生化标签处理的细胞，细胞成分和合成标记颗粒被收集，分离，浓缩和运输，而不会损坏物体本身。在各种非侵入性操作机制中，除了捕获和移动生物细胞之外，期望的机制是控制生物细胞的取向的能力。这种能力打开了大门，建设结构化的生物材料在构建生物膜和人体组织工程的潜在应用。在这个建议中，我们提出了一种新的方法，利用光的偏振的生物细胞的光学操纵和旋转。除了通过光束的扫描进行灵活的操作之外，与传统的光镊相比，所提出的方法有望实现精细的取向控制和低的光强度要求。所提出的系统中的一个关键元件是偏振控制器。因此，除了对所提出的方法进行概念验证之外，我们还计划通过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。微偏振控制器预期实现微秒响应时间，并且与商业偏振控制器相比占据显著更小的体积。在本研究所提出的R21计画中，我们期望达成以下特定目标：1）以生物细胞为载体的光学微操作器与微旋转器的建模与仿真。2)用不对称的微米/纳米颗粒对所提出的方法进行概念验证。3)MEMS偏振控制器的设计、制造和测试。拟议计划的成功将导致一个持续的研究计划，在那里将建立光学操纵和旋转的最终系统，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.