Improvement in resolution of laser capture microdissection using near-field probe to capture nanoparticles

A modified laser capture microdissection (LCM) system is developed to improve resolution to 400 nm, using a laser light (808 nm) transmitted by a near-field tip probe.

Using a 150-nm aperture to heat an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) film, melted spots on the average of 400 nm in diameter are generated on the underlying target composed of a 20-nm gold-particle monolayer. The near-field tip probe composed of fiber is set on a 2-D nanometer piezoactuator (PZT) for precise capturing of the monolayer of gold particles. The monolayer of gold particles under the target is bound to the EVA film using a laser, while the remaining EVA film stays on the monolayer.

The diameter of the melted spots as small as 400 nm are produced and details are provided that demonstrate the feasibility of the nanooperation of this new LCM system.

The new LCM system successfully captures nanoparticles and improves resolution of microdissection to 400 nm. With this LCM system, the isolation of a single organelle or bacterium is possible.