Optical Manipulation: Trapping, Photoporation, and Transfection

Abstract

The use of laser light for cell nanosurgery and micromanipulation has gained a significant interest in the recent decades. This article reviews and describes the emergent areas of optical cell transfection with laser fields and optical manipulation of cells. First, we discuss how laser beams can be used to create small submicron‐sized perforations in the cell membrane to facilitate the transfer of therapeutic agents. We then turn to the topic of manipulating the motion of cells with optical forces by using near infrared laser sources with no damage. We also present the laser‐guided neuron growth and then briefly discuss the merging of optical trapping and cell transfection by use of the breakdown of optically trapped particles for poration and transfection of larger numbers of cells.