Optical tweezers on commercial microscope

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A user-friendly 'turn-key' system providing two optical traps (one steerable and one fixed) is integrated into a top of the range research microscope (Nikon TE2000). A user interface written in LabView allows simple ‘click and drag’ manipulation of objects. The tweezers do not interfere with any of the standard functionality of the microscope. Thus trapping can be very easily combined with fluorescence imaging or DIC using a sensitive high resolution camera to record images.

Current projects:

  • DNA shape
  • DNA condensation
  • Interactions between fungal spores
  • Local shear in dense colloidal suspensions

This instrument has also been developed into a selfcontained module than can be attached to any standard research microscope. A packaged prototype has been built and currently  possibilities for commercialisation are explored. 

Follow this link for further detail: Edinburgh Research and Innovations