Single cell analysis on a microchip platform using optical tweezers and optical scissors

Microfluidic devices, or "lab-on-a-chip" systems for single cell analysis represent a new field of micro-total analysis systems (muTAS) that could not only perform a task quicker, and more accurately than conventional methods, but could also incorporate additional tools to the study of biological variability in a population by allowing researchers to directly examine the contents of a multitude of single cells from the population under study. Realizing such a device, presents several engineering challenges to the fields of micro-machining, micromanipulation and analytical bio-chemistry. The device needs to be able to accurately and efficiently select, manipulate and analyze volumes represented by a single cell without diluting the contents. For this purpose, optical tweezers and scissors were implemented to select single cells on a microchip, bring the cell to a desired location, and lyse the cell using the optical scissors. Channels were engineered in the device using a molecular fluorine (F-2) laser. Each channel's cross-section is approximately the size of an individual cell (10mum wide and deep). This paper, describes the manipulation of cells on a microchip using optical tweezers and the injection of the cellular contents by optical scissors from a single cell into Mum channels.