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Direct Force Measurements of Subcellular Mechanics in Confinement using Optical Tweezers
Published on: August 31, 2021
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Upconversion particle-based optical tweezers for sensing applications
Tiange Zhang1, Fengchan Zhang2,3, Xuchen Shan4
1School of Physics, Beihang University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Nature Protocols
|January 15, 2026
Summary
This study details building holographic optical tweezers using upconversion particles (UCPs) for precise subfemtonewton force sensing. The system enables multiplexed sensing of temperature and viscosity with high sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Photonics and Nanotechnology
- Biophysics and Nanosensing
Background:
- Optical tweezers are crucial for manipulating micro/nanoparticles and force sensing.
- Upconversion particles (UCPs) offer unique anti-Stokes emission for enhanced visualization and property detection.
- Nanoscale trapping advances enable multiplexed sensing of temperature and viscosity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide detailed instructions for constructing UCP-based holographic optical tweezers.
- To demonstrate subfemtonewton force sensing capabilities.
- To enable multiplexed temperature and viscosity measurements.
Main Methods:
- Holographic optical tweezers system construction with UCPs.
- Super-resolved photonic force microscopy and fluorescence optical tweezers implementation.
- Nanoprobe functionalization, force calibration, and spectral analysis for sensing.
Main Results:
- Characterization of a system for subfemtonewton force sensing.
- Successful demonstration of temperature and viscosity sensing using UCPs.
- Validation of force sensitivity and comparison with known forces.
Conclusions:
- UCP-based holographic optical tweezers offer a robust platform for advanced force sensing.
- The developed system facilitates multiplexed measurements of physical properties.
- This work provides a comprehensive protocol for researchers in photonics and nanosensing.
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