Constructing and probing biomimetic models of the actin cortex with holographic optical tweezers

Christian H. J. Schmitz; Jennifer E. Curtis; Joachim P. Spatz

doi:10.1117/12.559991

18 October 2004 Constructing and probing biomimetic models of the actin cortex with holographic optical tweezers

Christian H. J. Schmitz, Jennifer E. Curtis, Joachim P. Spatz

Proceedings Volume 5514, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.559991
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

The actin cortex is an adaptive chemo-mechanical polymer network located beneath the cell membrane. A thin, quasi two-dimensional (2D) network, the actin cortex plays a leading role in controlling cellular viscoelasticity, shape, and motility. Regulated by internal and external stimuli, the actin cortex varies its properties with controlled polymerization and depolymerization of actin. For constructing and probing biomimetic actin networks we combined three different techniques to achieve complete spatial, visual and chemical control of the microenvironment: 1) dynamic holographic optical tweezers (HOTs) which produce and independently steer one to hundreds of optical traps, 2) fluorescence microscopy for imaging of actin and 3) a specially-designed microfluidic system, which precisely controls the chemical environment. Using this system, we take two approaches to construct biomimetic 2D actin networks. First HOTs micropattern surfaces with microspheres onto which actin can the be grown. Secondly, HOTs in combination with a multi channel microfluidic system are used to coat optically-trapped microsphere arrays with actin.

Citation Download Citation

Christian H. J. Schmitz, Jennifer E. Curtis, and Joachim P. Spatz "Constructing and probing biomimetic models of the actin cortex with holographic optical tweezers", Proc. SPIE 5514, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation, (18 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.559991

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available