Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
13:39
Optical Trapping of Nanoparticles
Published on: January 15, 2013
27.3K
Optical trapping and manipulation of nanostructures
Onofrio M Maragò1, Philip H Jones, Pietro G Gucciardi
1CNR-IPCF, Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici, I-98158 Messina, Italy.
Nature Nanotechnology
|November 9, 2013
Summary
Optical trapping now extends to the nanoscale, enabling manipulation of crucial nanomaterials like quantum dots and graphene. Recent advances allow precise control, force measurement, and biosensing applications for these tiny structures.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Optical trapping has been established for sub-nanometre (atomic/molecular cooling) and micrometre (cell manipulation) scales.
- The intermediate nanoscale, crucial for nanomaterials, has been challenging for optical trapping techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the state-of-the-art in optical trapping at the nanoscale.
- To highlight recent advances in manipulating and assembling nanostructures.
- To discuss applications in force measurement and biosensing.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on nanoscale optical trapping.
- Focus on techniques for trapping plasmonic nanoparticles, nanowires, and carbon nanostructures.
- Emphasis on controlled manipulation and assembly of individual and multiple nanostructures.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of new approaches for nanoscale optical trapping.
- Successful manipulation and assembly of individual and multiple nanostructures.
- Achieved force measurement with femtonewton resolution.
- Development of nanoscale optical trapping for biosensor applications.
Conclusions:
- Optical trapping is now viable for the critical nanoscale range.
- Recent advances enable precise control and assembly of diverse nanostructures.
- Nanoscale optical trapping offers significant potential for nanomaterials applications, force measurement, and biosensing.
