Using Femtosecond Laser Subcellular Surgery as a Tool to Study Cell Biology

Shen, N ; Colvin, M E ; Huser, T

关键词: APOPTOSIS;    BIOLOGY;    CELL CONSTITUENTS;    CELL MEMBRANES;    CELL PROLIFERATION;    FOCUSING;    LASERS;    MITOCHONDRIA;    RESOLUTION;    SURGERY;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1036835
RP-ID  :  UCRL-TR-228609
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1036835
Others  :  TRN: US201207%%18

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

Research on cellular function and regulation would be greatly advanced by new instrumentation using methods to alter cellular processes with spatial discrimination on the nanometer-scale. We present a novel technique for targeting submicrometer sized organelles or other biologically important regions in living cells using femtosecond laser pulses. By tightly focusing these pulses beneath the cell membrane, we can vaporize cellular material inside the cell through nonlinear optical processes. This technique enables non-invasive manipulation of the physical structure of a cell with sub-micrometer resolution. We propose to study the role mitochondria play in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Our technique provides a unique tool for the study of cell biology.