Towards crystallization using optical tweezers

Wolfgang Singer; Ursula J. Gibson; Timo A. Nieminen; Norman R. Heckenberg; Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop

doi:10.1117/12.651755

16 January 2006 Towards crystallization using optical tweezers

Wolfgang Singer, Ursula J. Gibson, Timo A. Nieminen, Norman R. Heckenberg, Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop

Proceedings Volume 6038, Photonics: Design, Technology, and Packaging II; 60380B (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.651755
Event: Microelectronics, MEMS, and Nanotechnology, 2005, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract

Recently we have shown that protein crystals could be grown while they were three-dimensionally trapped by optical tweezers. This permitted studies of modifications of single crystals while gradually changing the conditions in the growing solution. Furthermore it allowed the crystals to grow far away from container walls favoring high quality crystal growth. Many protein crystals themselves consist of fairly large molecules, with sizes up to tens of nanometers. Here we present experiments studying the effect of optical trapping potentials on large molecules, with the aim to explore ways to further enhance crystal growth. For this purpose we extended our tweezers setup with a specially developed detection system allowing us to monitor changes in the molecule concentration of a solution. Using polyethylene oxide (PEO) molecule solutions we were able to demonstrate that the trapping potential of an optical trap is sufficient to collect large single molecules. Our results show that the optical trap induces an increase in the molecule concentration in the focal region. As expected only molecules above a certain molecular weight could be manipulated, and the concentration in the focal region depended on the power of the trapping laser. The ability to locally increase the concentration of molecules may be useful in assisting nucleation of crystals.

Citation Download Citation

Wolfgang Singer, Ursula J. Gibson, Timo A. Nieminen, Norman R. Heckenberg, and Halina Rubinsztein-Dunlop "Towards crystallization using optical tweezers", Proc. SPIE 6038, Photonics: Design, Technology, and Packaging II, 60380B (16 January 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.651755

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available