Positioning and immobilization of single-cell in thermo sensitive hydro gel using optical tweezers

A novel approach appropriate for rapid separation and analysis of single cell by concomitantly utilizing noncontact laser manipulation and locally thermo sensitive hydro gelation is proposed in this paper. We have employed a single laser beam as optical tweezers for separating a target cell and locating it adjacent to a fabricated transparent micro heater. Simultaneously, the target cell is immobilized or partially entrapped with thermo sensitive hydro gel by heating up the micro heater. The state of the thermo sensitive hydro gel can be switched from sol to gel and gel to sol reversibly by controlling its temperature through heating up and cooling down the micro heater. Having got rid of the other unwanted cells by the high speed cleaning flow in microchannel, the entrapped cell will be isolated effectively. It is possible to collect the immobilized target cell after analysis or culture process by switching of the micro heater and releasing the cell from the entrapment. We have demonstrated that the proposed approach is feasible for rapid manipulation, immobilization, cleaning, isolation and extraction of a single cell. Experiment results are shown here.