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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Viscoelastic Properties of Red Blood Cells Using Optical Tweezers and Defocusing Microscopy
Published on: March 25, 2022
Experimental analysis of Hb oxy-deoxy transition in single optically stretched red blood cells
1CNISM and Università di Napoli Federico II, Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy. giulia.rusciano@na.infn.it
Abstract:
Raman confocal microscopy, combined with an optical stretcher, is used to study the spatial distribution and the oxidation state of hemoglobin in erythrocytes under stretching condition. In particular, a near infrared laser (λ = 1064 nm) is used to generate multiple time-sharing Optical Tweezers to trap and stretch a single erythrocyte, while a second laser (λ = 532 nm) acts as Raman probe. Our study demonstrates that stretching induces hemoglobin transition to the deoxygenated state. Moreover, by using Principal Component Analysis we prove the reversibility of the oxy ↦ deoxy hemoglobin transition after application of the optically induced mechanical stress.
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