Bidirectional Transport of Nanoparticles and Cells with a Bio‐Conveyor Belt. Issue 50 (21st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Xiaoshuai; Wu, You; Xu, Xiaohao; Li, Yuchao; Zhang, Yao; Li, Baojun
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 15:Issue 50(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-10-21
• Subjects: bidirectional transport -- bio‐conveyor belts -- evanescent waves -- fiber probes; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201905209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: The bidirectional transport of nanoparticles and biological cells is of great significance in efficient biological assays and precision cell screening, and can be achieved with optical conveyor belts in a noncontact and noninvasive manner. However, implantation of these belts into biological systems can present significant challenges owing to the incompatibility of the artificial materials. In this work, an optical conveyor belt assembled from natural biological cells is proposed. The diameter of the belt (500 nm) is smaller than the laser wavelength (980 nm) and, therefore, the evanescent wave stably traps the nanoparticles and cells on the belt surface. By adjusting the relative power of the lasers injected into the belt, the particles or cells can be bidirectionally transported along the bio‐conveyor belt. The experimental results are numerically interpreted and the transport velocities are investigated based on simulations. Further experiments show that the bio‐conveyor belt can also be assembled with mammalian cells and then applied to dynamic cell transport in vivo. The bio‐conveyor belt might provide a noninvasive and biocompatible tool for biomedical assays, drug delivery, and biological nanoarchitectonics. Abstract : A bio‐conveyor belt with adjustable length is assembled from biological cells and applied for the bidirectional transport of nanoparticles and cells. The impacts of cell size and particle properties on transport capability are analyzed using numerical simulations. The bio‐conveyor belt can also be assembled with mammalian cells and then devoted to the transport of cells in vivo.