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Bubble wrap for optical trapping and cell culturing.

Craig McDonald1, David McGloin1

  • 1SUPA, Division of Physics, School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, Scotland, UK.

Biomedical Optics Express
|October 28, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Bubble wrap bubbles serve as sterile, gas-permeable chambers for cell culture and low-cost optical trapping. This repurposing of common materials enables biophysical analysis in resource-limited settings.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Optical manipulation offers powerful tools for biophysical analysis.
  • Low-cost, accessible methods are needed for resource-limited settings.
  • Repurposing common materials can provide innovative solutions in scientific research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the feasibility of using bubble wrap as a platform for cell culture and optical manipulation.
  • To develop a low-cost optical trapping system using readily available materials.
  • To demonstrate the potential for biophysical analysis in resource-limited environments.

Main Methods:

  • Bubble wrap bubbles were utilized as sterile, gas-permeable cell culture chambers.
  • A low-cost optical trapping system was constructed using a 100 W bulb to cure polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) droplets.
Keywords:
(000.2170) Equipment and techniques(120.4610) Optical fabrication(140.7010) Laser trapping(180.0180) Microscopy(220.0220) Optical design and fabrication(350.4855) Optical tweezers or optical manipulation

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  • Effector T cells were cultured within bubble wrap for 8 days and subsequently manipulated using the PDMS droplet optical system.

    • Main Results:

    • Bubble wrap bubbles provide suitable sterile and gas-permeable environments for cell culture.
    • The flat surfaces of bubble wrap exhibit sufficient optical quality for optical trapping.
    • A functional, low-cost optical trapping system was successfully constructed and utilized.
    • Effector T cells were cultured and manipulated within the bubble wrap system for 8 days.

    Conclusions:

    • Bubble wrap is a viable and cost-effective material for creating chambers for cell culture and optical manipulation.
    • The developed low-cost optical trapping system demonstrates the potential for advanced biophysical analysis in resource-limited settings.
    • Repurposing everyday materials like bubble wrap opens new avenues for scientific research and accessibility.