University
of Toronto
Physics Department
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS & QUANTUM OPTICS AND FRONTIERS IN PHOTONICS SEMINAR
SPECIAL SEMINAR
University
of Toronto
CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS & QUANTUM OPTICS AND FRONTIERS IN PHOTONICS SEMINAR
SPECIAL SEMINAR
| Speaker : | Dr. Kristian Helmerson
NIST - Gaithersburg |
| Topic : | Optical manipulation of liposomes and hydrosomes |
| Time : | Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 4:00 p.m. |
| Place : | Room MP 408, Burton Tower, 60 St. George Street /255 Huron Street |
Abstract
The need for studying cellular processes, evaluating cellular response and performing high-throughput reactions in the pharmaceutical industry has prompted the rapid development of ultra-small volume analytical systems such as microfluidic devices, microarrays and nanovial arrays. There are, however, a number of problems associated with such devices as the volume of fluid handled becomes smaller and smaller. In order to address these problems, we are developing optically based techniques for manipulating cell-size liposomes and hydrosomes (surfactant stabilized water drops in flurocarbon) as small volume containers for chemical reactions. Using optical tweezers and a highly focused pulsed UV laser, we are able to selectively translate and fuse together either pairs of liposomes or hydrosomes, which allows their contents to mix and a chemical reaction to take place.
Local Host: Aephraim Steinberg
(416-978-0713) 