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Use of Dual Optical Tweezers and Microfluidics for Single-Molecule Studies
Published on: November 18, 2022
A microfluidic device for reversible environmental changes around single cells using optical tweezers for cell
Emma Eriksson1, Kristin Sott, Fredrik Lundqvist
1Department of Physics, University of Gothenburg, SE-41296, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Lab on a Chip
|February 18, 2010
Summary
This study presents a novel method combining microfluidics and optical tweezers to observe single-cell responses to dynamic environmental changes. This technique allows for precise control and analysis of cellular signaling pathways under fluctuating conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Cells respond to dynamic chemical environments, necessitating studies on cellular signaling under fluctuating conditions.
- Traditional methods often alter only the magnitude of chemical stimuli, limiting the understanding of dynamic cellular responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and demonstrate an experimental method for observing single-cell behavior during reversible environmental perturbations.
- To enable precise control over cell positioning and density for improved experimental analysis.
Main Methods:
- Integration of microfluidics with optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy.
- Individual cell selection and positioning using optical tweezers within a microfluidic device.
- Rapid ( < 2 s) and reliable switching between two media using the microfluidic system.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated precise control over cell density and number, avoiding cell clusters for easier image analysis.
- Successfully monitored the translocation of GFP-tagged proteins (Mig1, Msn2) between the cytosol and nucleus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
- Validated the method by observing cellular responses to changes in glucose availability.
Conclusions:
- The combined microfluidics and optical tweezers approach provides a powerful tool for studying single-cell dynamics.
- This method facilitates a deeper understanding of signaling transduction pathways regulating cellular responses to environmental stimuli.
- Enables optimized experimental conditions for high-resolution analysis of cell behavior.
