Yadav Dharm Singh, Savopol Tudor
Biophysics and Cellular Biotechnology Department, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
J Med Life. 2024 Nov;17(11):978-993. doi: 10.25122/jml-2024-0316.
Optical tweezers, which leverage the forces exerted by radiation pressure, have emerged as a pivotal technique for precisely manipulating and analyzing microscopic particles. Since Arthur Ashkin's ground-breaking work in the 1970s and the subsequent development of the single-beam optical trap in 1986, the capabilities of optical tweezers have expanded significantly, enabling the intricate manipulation of biological specimens at the micro- and nanoscale. This review elucidates the foundational principles of optical trapping and their extensive applications in the biomedical sciences. The applications of optical tweezers in biomedicine are vast, ranging from the investigation of cellular mechanical properties, such as cell stretching, membrane elasticity, and stiffness, to single-molecule studies encompassing DNA and protein mechanics, protein-DNA interactions, molecular motor functions, and pathogen-host interactions. Advancement of optical tweezers in this field includes their integration with holography, fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, and enhancements in force sensitivity and positional accuracy. These tools have profoundly impacted the study of cellular mechanics, drug discovery processes, and disease diagnostics, providing unparalleled insights into the biophysical mechanisms underlying health and pathology.
光镊利用辐射压力产生的力，已成为精确操纵和分析微观粒子的关键技术。自20世纪70年代亚瑟·阿什金的开创性工作以及1986年单光束光阱的后续发展以来，光镊的功能有了显著扩展，能够在微米和纳米尺度上对生物样本进行精细操纵。本文综述阐述了光镊的基本原理及其在生物医学科学中的广泛应用。光镊在生物医学中的应用广泛，从对细胞力学特性（如细胞拉伸、膜弹性和硬度）的研究，到涵盖DNA和蛋白质力学、蛋白质-DNA相互作用、分子马达功能以及病原体-宿主相互作用的单分子研究。光镊在该领域的进展包括与全息术、荧光显微镜、微流控技术的整合，以及力灵敏度和位置精度的提高。这些工具对细胞力学研究、药物发现过程和疾病诊断产生了深远影响，为健康和病理背后的生物物理机制提供了无与伦比的见解。
