brian myers issued
A groundbreaking technique by MIT scientists allows for the manipulation of particles reminiscent of the tractor beams in Star Wars and Star Trek. The microchip contains multiple optical traps that serve to focus beams of light that separate biological particles and control their movement, opening up the possibility of controlling cells and DNA particles. Developers hope the chip-based technology will provide “more compact, affordable and versatile solutions” for treating diseases such as cancer.
The light from tractor beam They can pass through barriers that protect samples from contamination, potentially making tests and treatments safer.
Once the cells are captured within the tractor beam, the tweezers can be manipulated to move the separated cells and/or particles. The MIT researchers first tried this practice on polystyrene spheres to isolate cancer cells before using tweezers to capture and manipulate their movements.
Silicon photonics-based optical tweezers were able to capture particles “over millimeter-scale distances,” said researcher Elena Notaros, the Robert J. Sillman Career Development Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computers. He said this was his first time. Science.
Light from the tractor beam can penetrate barriers that protect samples from contamination, potentially making testing and treatment safer. Light has been shown to be able to pass through the glass that protects cells. This means that the sterility of the sample is not compromised.
Because of the tractor beam’s precision and ability to penetrate glass, Notaros is optimistic that the technology will allow researchers to test their work in natural rather than synthetic environments.
Tractor beams also do not need to be on the same surface as the cells to work effectively. Integrated optical phased arrays (IOPAs), as the name suggests, can capture cells from a distance. Notaros argues that this ability will truly open the door for the technology.
Because of the tractor beam’s precision and ability to penetrate glass, Notaros is optimistic that the technology will allow researchers to test their work in natural rather than synthetic environments. This will allow you to work in a completely sterile and stress-free environment.
As research into cellular processes continues, this tractor beam technology will allow researchers around the world to obtain more detailed information about the complexity of these microparticles.
Compactness is also an advantage for future researchers. Tractor beams work over longer spans, allowing entire lab-scale systems to be placed on the smallest microchip. Notaros says this reduces overhead and lowers the threshold for additional work.
As research into cellular processes continues, this tractor beam technology will allow researchers around the world to obtain more detailed information about the complexity of these microparticles. Additionally, DNA can be further studied and may lead to improved gene therapy in the future.
source: interesting engineering
