Open AccessDual beam fibre trap for Raman micro-spectroscopy of single cells
Author(s) -
P. Jess,
V. Garcés-Chávez,
Daniel D. W. Smith,
Michaël Mazilu,
Lynn Paterson,
Andrew Riches,
C. Simon Herrington,
W. Sibbett,
Kishan Dholakia
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.14.005779
Subject(s) - optical tweezers , raman spectroscopy , tweezers , beam (structure) , optics , materials science , trap (plumbing) , spectroscopy , microfluidics , coherent anti stokes raman spectroscopy , light beam , trapping , optoelectronics , raman scattering , nanotechnology , physics , ecology , quantum mechanics , meteorology , biology
Raman spectroscopy permits acquisition of molecular signatures from both cellular and sub-cellular samples. When combined with optical trapping we may interrogate an isolated cell reducing extraneous signals from the local environment. To date, experimental configurations have employed combinations of the single beam optical tweezers trap and Raman spectroscopy, using either the same beam or separate beams for Raman interrogation and trapping. A key problem in optical tweezers is the ability to hold and manoeuvre large cells. In this paper, we use a dual beam fibre trap to hold and manoeuvre cells combined with an orthogonally placed objective to record Raman spectra. The dual beam trap, due to its divergent light fields, offers an as yet unexploited ability to hold and move large cellular objects with reduced prospects of photodamage. We additionally show how this system permits us to move large primary human keratinocytes (approximately 30 microns in diameter), such that we may record Raman spectra from local parts of a trapped cell with ease. Finally, we develop a rudimentary microfluidic system used to generate a flow of cells. Using our dual beam trap, combined with this flow system, we hold and acquire Raman spectra from individual cells chosen from a sample of HL60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells.