Optically-driven red blood cell rotor in linearly polarized laser tweezers

Khan, Manas and Mohanty, Samarendra K and Sood, AK (2005) Optically-driven red blood cell rotor in linearly polarized laser tweezers. In: Pramana-Journal of Physics, 65 (5). pp. 777-786.

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Abstract

We have constructed a dual trap optical tweezers set-up around an inverted microscope where both the traps can be independently controlled and manipulated in all the three dimensions. Here we report our observations on rotation of red blood cells (RBCs) in a linearly polarized optical trap. Red blood cells deform and become twisted in hypertonic phosphate buffer saline and when trapped, experience an unbalanced radiation pressure force. The torque generated from the unbalanced force causes the trapped RBC to rotate. Addition of $Ca^{++}$ ions in the solution, keeping the osmolarity same, makes the cell membranes stiffer and the cells deform less. Thus the speed of rotation of the red blood cells can be controlled, as less deformation and in turn less asymmetry in shape produces less torque under the radiation pressure resulting in slower rotation at the same laser power.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Pramana-Journal of Physics
Publisher:	Indian Academy of Sciences
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:	Rotation of red blood cell;optical tweezers;dual optical trap
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	27 Dec 2005
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 04:22
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/4792

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