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Lasers in medicine and biophotonics: Jonathan Leach
Getting a grip on the micro-world
Jonathan Leach
Optics Group, Department of Physics & Astronomy, Kelvin Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
Email: j.leach@physics.gla.ac.uk
We have developed a real time interface for holographic optical tweezers where the operator’s fingertips are mapped to the positions of silica beads captured in optical traps. The beads act as the fingertips of a microhand which can be used to manipulate objects that otherwise do not lend themselves to tweezers control, e.g. objects that are strongly scattering or highly light sensitive. Following from this, we show how a similar system can be used to position multiple cells in complex 2 and 3D arrangements. We are currently investigating how high-speed video microscopy can be used to measure the sub-thermal forces between interacting cells and particles. By using either a bespoke imaging camera with integrated particle tracking or commercial CMOS cameras we can measure the residual Brownian motion of many objects simultaneously. This data gives positional information at the nanometre level a corresponding force sensitivity of 10 femtonewtons. The extreme sensitivity of these measurements, suggests the basis of a new sensor used to measure the stiffness of different biological material.
AILU one-day technology workshop as part of the Industry and Technology Programme at Photon08.
Photonics is an enabling technology for many products in different sectors. Increasingly important in all areas this seminar is designed to highlight developments in laser technology as applied to medical and biophotonics areas. The burgeoning specialism of photonics in the medical sector is addressed in this one-day meeting as part of Photon 08.
Duncan Hand of Heriot-Watt University will be chairing the event.
This is a Medical Group event - for more information about the Medical Special Interest Group or to join contact the AILU Office.