Orientation of erythrocytes in optical trap revealed by confocal fluorescence microscopy

Khyati S. Mohanty; Samarendra K. Mohanty; Shamci Monajembashi; Karl Otto Greulich

doi:10.1117/1.2822365

1 November 2007 Orientation of erythrocytes in optical trap revealed by confocal fluorescence microscopy

Khyati S. Mohanty, Samarendra K. Mohanty, Shamci Monajembashi, Karl Otto Greulich

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 12, Issue 6, 060506 (November 2007). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2822365

Abstract

There has been considerable current interest in the rotational behavior of red blood cells (RBCs) in optical tweezers. However, the mechanism of rotation in polarized tweezers is still not well understood and conflicts exist in the understanding of this phenomenon. Therefore, we reexamined the underlying phenomenon by use of confocal fluorescence microscopy in combination with optical tweezers. Under different osmolarities of the buffer, the three-dimensionally reconstructed images showed that the trapped RBC maintains its shape and is oriented in the vertical direction. Using dual optical tweezers, the RBC could also be oriented three-dimensionally in a controlled manner. The mechanism of orientation and alignment of RBCs with the polarization of the tweezers' beam was attributed to its form-birefringence rather than optical birefringence.

©(2007) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Khyati S. Mohanty, Samarendra K. Mohanty, Shamci Monajembashi, and Karl Otto Greulich "Orientation of erythrocytes in optical trap revealed by confocal fluorescence microscopy," Journal of Biomedical Optics 12(6), 060506 (1 November 2007). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.2822365

Published: 1 November 2007

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