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Introduction to Optical Tweezers: Background, System Designs, and Commercial Solutions

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Single Molecule Analysis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1665))

Abstract

Optical tweezers are a means to manipulate objects with light. With the technique, microscopically small objects can be held and steered, while forces on the trapped objects can be accurately measured and exerted. Optical tweezers can typically obtain a nanometer spatial resolution, a picoNewton force resolution, and a millisecond time resolution, which makes them excellently suited to study biological processes from the single-cell down to the single-molecule level. In this chapter, we will provide an introduction on the use of optical tweezers in single-molecule approaches. We will introduce the basic principles and methodology involved in optical trapping, force calibration, and force measurements. Next we describe the components of an optical tweezers setup and their experimental relevance in single-molecule approaches. Finally, we provide a concise overview of commercial optical tweezers systems. Commercial systems are becoming increasingly available and provide access to single-molecule optical tweezers experiments without the need for a thorough background in physics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Joost van Mameren

  2. LaserLaB and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Gijs J. L. Wuite & Iddo Heller

Authors
  1. Joost van Mameren
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  2. Gijs J. L. Wuite
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  3. Iddo Heller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gijs J. L. Wuite .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics & Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Erwin J. G. Peterman

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van Mameren, J., Wuite, G.J.L., Heller, I. (2018). Introduction to Optical Tweezers: Background, System Designs, and Commercial Solutions. In: Peterman, E. (eds) Single Molecule Analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1665. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7271-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7271-5_1

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