Open AccessOptical-force-controlled red-blood-cell microlenses for subwavelength trapping and imaging
Author(s) -
Xixi Chen,
Heng Li,
Tian-Li Wu,
Zhiyong Gong,
Jinghui Guo,
Yuchao Li,
Baojun Li,
Pietro Ferraro,
Yao Zhang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
biomedical optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.362
H-Index - 86
ISSN - 2156-7085
DOI - 10.1364/boe.457700
Subject(s) - microlens , materials science , optics , focal length , magnification , optical power , optical tweezers , trapping , laser , optoelectronics , lens (geology) , physics , ecology , biology
We demonstrate that red blood cells (RBCs), with an adjustable focusing effect controlled by optical forces, can act as bio-microlenses for trapping and imaging subwavelength objects. By varying the laser power injected into a tapered fiber probe, the shape of a swelled RBC can be changed from spherical to ellipsoidal by the optical forces, thus adjusting the focal length of such bio-microlens in a range from 3.3 to 6.5 µm. An efficient optical trapping and a simultaneous fluorescence detecting of a 500-nm polystyrene particle have been realized using the RBC microlens. Assisted by the RBC microlens, a subwavelength imaging has also been achieved, with a magnification adjustable from 1.6× to 2×. The RBC bio-microlenses may offer new opportunities for the development of fully biocompatible light-driven devices in diagnosis of blood disease.