Article
Chemistry, Physical
Gokul Nalupurackal, M. Gunaseelan, Srestha Roy, Muruga Lokesh, Sumeet Kumar, Rahul Vaippully, Rajesh Singh, Basudev Roy
Summary: Optical tweezers have revolutionized micromanipulation, but the high laser power can damage biological samples. Therefore, the use of fluid flow fields for indirect manipulation of microparticles and objects has become important. Recent research has shown that opto-plasmonic heating of a gold surface can induce rotation of cells and particles. In this study, two hotspots were placed in close proximity to form a unique configuration of flow fields, creating an effective quasi-three-dimensional 'trap' with the assistance of thermophoresis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jostine Puthenveetil Joby, Suman Das, Praveenkumar Pinapati, Benoit Rogez, Guillaume Baffou, Dhermendra K. Tiwari, Sudhir Cherukulappurath
Summary: Optically-assisted large-scale assembly of nanoparticles has gained recent attention for its potential in assembling and manipulating colloidal particles and biological entities. This work presents an alternative method using graphene oxide's excellent photothermal properties to achieve non-equilibrium transport and assembly of matter. Experimental results demonstrate the rapid aggregation of silica beads using low-intensity laser illumination, attributed to optically driven thermophoretic forces.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Roukuya Mamuti, Takao Fuji, Tetsuhiro Kudo
Summary: A new method for opto-thermophoretic trapping using a 2 μm Tm-doped fiber laser is proposed. The trapping is based on strong absorption of infrared laser beam by water solution, generating a local temperature gradient. The phenomenon is found to be dependent on material, particle size, and laser power, with 2 μm being the longest wavelength used for such trapping to date.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Johannes Frueh, Sven Rutkowski, Tieyan Si, Yu-Xuan Ren, Meiyu Gai, Sergei I. Tverdokhlebov, Guangyu Qiu, Jean Schmitt, Qiang He, Jing Wang
Summary: This study reports on the optical trapping of two artificial plasmonic microparticles: one with isotropic nanoparticles covering the surface (homogeneous particle) and an anisotropic Janus micro-particle coated with a gold nano-layer. The plasmonic gold nanostructures absorb light energy and produce heat, significantly affecting the optical trapping. The developed method allows for determining both photophoretic and thermophoretic forces acting on the particles, providing new paths for micromachine analysis and control.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Optics
Mohammad Mahdi Shanei, Einstom Engay, Mikael Kaell
Summary: Researchers have proposed an ultra-thin silicon-based metasurface technology that enables simultaneous confinement and propulsion of microparticles, allowing for the trapping and transport of microscopic particles in a thin liquid cell. This technology is expected to play a significant role in areas such as miniaturized optical sensing, driving, and sorting.
Editorial Material
Optics
Zhiyuan Zhang, Daniel Ahmed
Summary: Researchers have developed a new optical technique for high-precision measurement of cell lateral adhesion kinetics in complex clinical samples.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaofeng Liu, Linhan Lin, Hong-Bo Sun
Summary: The optical manipulation of tiny objects is crucial for materials science and life science, involving direct and indirect optomechanical coupling. Traditional optical tweezers require high optical power and rigorous optics, while opto-thermophoretic manipulation techniques feature low optical power and high efficiency as a new emerging approach.
Article
Polymer Science
Qunli Yu, Nan Sun, Dengwen Hu, Yaping Wang, Xiaohua Chang, Nan Yan, Yutian Zhu, Yongjin Li
Summary: The proposed method effectively encapsulates large size inorganic nanoparticles into polymeric vesicles through 3D confined co-assembly within organic emulsion droplets. The encapsulation of nanoparticles into vesicle walls is mainly influenced by the ratio of nanoparticle diameter to the layer thickness of affinitive blocks.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ge Wu, Yuting Li, Jiafeng Zhang, Wen Yun, Zhengwei Xiong, Lizhu Yang
Summary: A simultaneous and ultra-sensitive detection strategy for Cu2+ and Mg2+ in wine and beer was developed using dual DNA tweezers and entropy-driven three-dimensional DNA nanomachines. The strategy showed improved detection limits and good selectivity and specificity in experiments, making it a promising method for practical applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Susav Pradhan, Catherine P. Whitby, Martin A. K. Williams, Jack L. Y. Chen, Ebubekir Avci
Summary: The study systematically explored the assembly dynamics of colloidal particles at an air-water interface and found that factors such as surface charge, solution pH, wettability, and surface tension play critical roles in determining the assembly behavior.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Harry J. D. Miller, M. Hamed Mohammady, Marti Perarnau-Llobet, Giacomo Guarnieri
Summary: Thermodynamic uncertainty relations reveal the trade-off between precision and entropy production, setting an upper bound for the efficiency of autonomous heat engines. Heat engines operating in the periodic slow-driving regime can satisfy a less restrictive uncertainty relation, allowing for finite power production with small fluctuations while operating close to reversibility. The inclusion of quantum fluctuations reduces engine efficiency relative to average power and reliability.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Xiuying Li, Jingang Li, Zhihan Chen, Hongru Ding, Youngsun Kim, Suichu Huang, Zhenpeng Qin, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: This article introduces the low-temperature opto-thermophoretic tweezers (HOTTs) technology, which achieves low-power trapping of diverse colloids and biological cells at sub-ambient temperatures through an environmental cooling strategy. At the same time, HOTTs can also suppress thermal damage. With their noninvasiveness and versatile capabilities, HOTTs have great potential for research and applications in materials science and biotechnology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Yanan Zhao, Wanying Song, Jiaqi Xu, Tianli Wu, Zhiyong Gong, Yuchao Li, Baojun Li, Yao Zhang
Summary: Light-driven micro motors with high spatial resolution have been modified with fluorescence materials to combine biosensing functionality. However, these fluorescence micro motors are driven and excited by UV or visible lights, which may cause photo-damage. The proposed upconversion fluorescence micro motors (UCFMs) are constructed by lanthanide (NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+) doped micro rods and can be driven and excited by near-infrared lights. These UCFMs hold great potential for applications in precise biosensing, single-cell biomedical analysis, and targeted drug delivery.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Gokul Nalupurackal, Kingshuk Panja, Snigdhadev Chakraborty, Srestha Roy, Jayesh Goswami, Basudev Roy, Rajesh Singh
Summary: In recent studies, researchers have reported a hydro-thermophoretic trap that can trap and manipulate microparticles and living cells outside a laser beam. This trap works based on the competition between thermoplasmonic flows and thermophoresis caused by laser heating. In this study, the controlled roll rotation of a microparticle in the hydro-thermophoretic trap was demonstrated through experiments and theory, with the roll angular velocity measured experimentally and predicted computationally.
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tai Bui, Harry Frampton, Shanshan Huang, Ian R. Collins, Alberto Striolo, Angelos Michaelides
Summary: In the study, it was found that surfactants not only reduce direct contact between two fluids, but also increase disorder at the interface, leading to a reduction in interfacial tension between water and oil.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shao-Feng Liu, Zheng-Wei Hou, Linhan Lin, Zhengcao Li, Hong-Bo Sun
Summary: 3D laser nanoprinting revolutionizes manufacturing by allowing maskless fabrication of 3D nanostructures at a resolution beyond the optical diffraction limit. It offers printed structures with unique physical, chemical, or mechanical properties not seen at the macro scale. However, its reliance on photopolymerization limits its usability to certain materials and functionalities. The ability to print diverse functional materials and the development of laser nanoprinting techniques beyond photopolymerization open up exciting new applications in nanophotonics and microelectronics.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongru Ding, Zhihan Chen, Carolina Ponce, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: Due to their contactless and fuel-free operation, optical rotation techniques have great potential in various fields such as cellular biology, 3D imaging, and micro/nanorobotics. However, the complexity of optics, high power requirements, and limitations in object applicability hinder their broader use. This Feature Article focuses on a new class of optical rotation techniques called optothermal rotation, which utilizes light-mediated thermal phenomena to enable versatile and simpler rotary control of objects with lower power. The article provides an overview of the fundamental thermal phenomena and concepts involved in optothermal rotation and categorizes the techniques based on their rotation modes and thermal phenomena. The potential applications of optothermal manipulation techniques in areas like single-cell mechanics, 3D bio-imaging, and micro/nanomotors are also discussed, along with insights on operating guidelines, challenges, and future directions.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guan-Yao Huang, Linhan Lin, Shuang Zhao, Wenbin Li, Xiaonan Deng, Simian Zhang, Chen Wang, Xiao-Ze Li, Yan Zhang, Hong -Hua Fang, Yixuan Zou, Peng Li, Benfeng Bai, Hong -Bo Sun, Tairan Fu
Summary: Excitons are quasi-particles composed of electron-hole pairs and play a crucial role in determining the optical properties of monolayer TMDs. Manipulating their charge states in a reversible manner remains challenging. By utilizing femtosecond-laser-driven atomic defect generation, electron transfer, and surface molecular desorption/adsorption, we have developed an all-optical approach to control the charge states of excitons in monolayer MoS2, enabling reconfigurable optical encoding.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Zhihan Chen, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: Optothermal manipulation is a versatile technique that combines optical and thermal forces to control micro-/nanoparticles and biological entities. It overcomes the limitations of traditional optical tweezers and has a wide range of applications in biology, nanotechnology, and robotics. However, there are current challenges in experimental and modeling aspects, which need to be addressed for further advancements in this field.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongru Ding, Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Kan Yao, Yiran Chang, Daniel J. Dickinson, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: Optical tweezers offer contact-free manipulation of small objects, but require sophisticated imaging and feedback systems for controlled motion. We develop an optothermal platform that enables multimodal manipulation of micro/nanoparticles along various surfaces, including both synthesized particles and biological cells. With this platform, we can achieve localized control of biological functions on rough surfaces of live worms and their embryos. This multimodal optothermal platform will be a powerful tool in life sciences, nanotechnology, and colloidal sciences.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jie Fang, Suichu Huang, Kan Yao, Tianyi Zhang, Mauricio Terrones, Wentao Huang, Yunlu Pan, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: Tunable exciton-photon couplings have been demonstrated in monolayer TMDs, showing strong bright-exciton-photon couplings and revealing the novel interactions between bright and dark exciton-photon hybrids in a single optical cavity. The waveguide mode can be tuned in wavelengths by controlling the spacer thickness, and the relative contribution from the antenna mode coupled with dark excitons can be dynamically enlarged by increasing the excitation angle. This study opens new possibilities in tunable QED and provides insights into the coexistence of bright and dark exciton-photon couplings.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaoran Liu, Rohit Unni, Xin Lou, Mingcheng Yang, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: This article introduces a high-resolution 3D imaging and classification technique based on optical microscopy coupled with optothermal rotation. It is applicable to any suspended organism in clinical samples, enabling contact-free and biocompatible 3D imaging.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Anand Swain, Zhihan Chen, Yaoran Liu, Zilong Wu, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: Thermal-tape-transfer printing enables the fabrication of large-scale and homogeneous moire chiral metamaterials (MCMs) with arbitrary twist angles and tunable optical chirality. This opens doors to various biological, photonic, and optoelectronic applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaoran Liu, Zilong Wu, Daniel W. Armstrong, Herman Wolosker, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: The chirality of small metabolic molecules plays an important role in physiological processes and health assessment. Abnormal ratios of enantiomers in biofluids and tissues are associated with various diseases. Chiral small molecules show great potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis, drug-effect monitoring, pharmacodynamics, and personalized medicine. However, analyzing small chiral molecules in clinical settings remains challenging due to their diversity and low concentration levels.
NATURE REVIEWS CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhihan Chen, Hongru Ding, Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Jingang Li, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: Researchers propose a novel optical feedback control system that can mimic collective motion observed in living objects. This system allows for experimental investigation of velocity alignment in a perturbed environment, and spontaneous formation of different moving states and dynamic transitions were observed.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pavana Siddhartha Kollipara, Xiuying Li, Jingang Li, Zhihan Chen, Hongru Ding, Youngsun Kim, Suichu Huang, Zhenpeng Qin, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: This article introduces the low-temperature opto-thermophoretic tweezers (HOTTs) technology, which achieves low-power trapping of diverse colloids and biological cells at sub-ambient temperatures through an environmental cooling strategy. At the same time, HOTTs can also suppress thermal damage. With their noninvasiveness and versatile capabilities, HOTTs have great potential for research and applications in materials science and biotechnology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Optics
Youngsun Kim, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: By decoupling temperature and flow fields, ISO-FLUCS enables precise control over fluid manipulation while minimizing thermal damage through symmetry-correlated laser scan sequences. Quasi-isothermal optofluidic streaming is achieved.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yu Zhou, Huiran Yang, Xueying Wang, Heng Yang, Ke Sun, Zhitao Zhou, Liuyang Sun, Jianlong Zhao, Tiger H. H. Tao, Xiaoling Wei
Summary: Advancements in microscale electrode technology have revolutionized neuroscience and clinical applications, offering high temporal and spatial resolution. Flexible neural probes outperform rigid devices due to their mechanical compliance and longevity. Inspired by mosquito mouthparts, a biomimetic neuroprobe system with nonvisual monitoring capability has been developed, reducing the risk of brain vessel damage during implantation. This system demonstrates exceptional sensitivity, adaptability, and performance, showing promising potential for future applications in neuroscience and brain-machine interfaces.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Marcel Herber, Ana Jimenez Amaya, Nicklas Giese, Bharath Bangalore Rajeeva, Yuebing Zheng, Eric H. Hill
Summary: The printing of layered silicate nanoclays using a laser-directed microbubble was established, and the influence of surface chemistry on the resulting assembly was studied. This work also demonstrated the potential of this method in fabricating ultrasensitive molecular sensors.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Optics
Yaoran Liu, Hongru Ding, Jingang Li, Xin Lou, Mingcheng Yang, Yuebing Zheng
Summary: In this article, the authors develop a new optical technique called single-cell rotational adhesion frequency assay (scRAFA) for label-free determination of both homogeneous and heterogeneous binding kinetics of targeted cells at the subcellular level. The scRAFA is also applicable to analyze the binding affinities on a single cell in native human biofluids.