Commercial High Resolution Optical Tweezers Packages for Single Macromolecule Analysis and Control

The advent of methods to detect and manipulate single macromolecules has unleashed a new frontier in biological physics, especially at the nanoscale. Despite rapid advances in one of these methods, optical tweezers technology, its full impact on the nanobiotechnology, biopharmaceutical, and clinical research markets remains far from fully realized. To date, nearly all high resolution optical tweezers are locally built and thus limited to a handful of academic laboratories. Commercially available optical tweezers systems would allow a broader user community to exploit these new tools for single molecule analysis and control. This project will refine an existing apparatus in order to bring ultra-high-resolution optical tweezers to a broader audience of researchers. Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of a high-resolution optical tweezers commercial package using single molecule biosystems under constant-force conditions. In Phase II, the remaining hardware upgrades will be integrated into a low-maintenance, self-contained hardware package, and control and noise reduction software will be further developed. An integrated graphical user interface will be developed to allow automated calibration, and basic trapping control and functionality. In addition, advanced modules will be developed for flow cells and nanopositioning stages. Robust assays for single molecule analysis and control, such as single-molecule DNA assays with nanomedical applications, will be established. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The optical tweezers systems should find use in biophysics, nanobiology, molecular diagnostics, pathology, oncology, drug discovery, and nanomanufacturing.