Accurate position tracking of optically trapped live cells

McAlinden, Niall; Glass, David G.; Millington, Owain R.; Wright, Amanda J.

Abstract

Optical trapping is a powerful tool in Life Science research and is becoming common place in many microscopy laboratories and facilities. There is a growing need to directly trap the cells of interest rather than introduce beads to the sample that can affect the fundamental biological functions of the sample and impact on the very properties the user wishes to observe and measure. However, instabilities while tracking large inhomogeneous objects, such as cells, can make tracking position, calibrating trap strength and making reliable measurements challenging. These instabilities often manifest themselves as cell roll or re-orientation and can occur as a result of viscous drag forces and thermal convection, as well as spontaneously due to Brownian forces. In this paper we discuss and mathematically model the cause of this roll and present several experimental approaches for tackling these issues, including using a novel beam profile consisting of three closely spaced traps and tracking a trapped object by analysing fluorescence images. The approaches presented here trap T cells which form part of the adaptive immune response system, but in principle can be applied to a wide range of samples where the size and inhomogeneous nature of the trapped object can hinder particle tracking experiments.

Citation

McAlinden, N., Glass, D. G., Millington, O. R., & Wright, A. J. (2014). Accurate position tracking of optically trapped live cells. Biomedical Optics Express, 5(4), https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.5.001026

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 20, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Mar 3, 2014
• Publication Date: Apr 3, 2014
• Deposit Date: Apr 17, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 17, 2014
• Journal: Biomedical Optics Express
• Electronic ISSN: 2156-7085
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.5.001026
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/727681
• Publisher URL: http://www.https://www.osapublishing.org/boe/abstract.cfm?uri=boe-5-4-1026
• Additional Information: This paper was published in Biomedical Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/boe/abstract.cfm?uri=boe-5-4-1026. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
• Contract Date: Apr 17, 2014