Abstract: Optical traps enable nanoscale manipulation of individual biomolecules while measuring molecular forces and lengths. Disclosed herein is a camera-based detection system that enables accurate and precise measurements of forces and interactions in a dual optical trap. Optical traps may be used to stretch and unzip DNA molecules while measuring the displacements of trapped particles from their trapping centers with sub-nanometer accuracy and precision.

Abstract: Optical traps enable nanoscale manipulation of individual biomolecules while measuring molecular forces and lengths. Disclosed herein is a camera-based detection system that enables accurate and precise measurements of forces and interactions in a dual optical trap. Optical traps may be used to stretch and unzip DNA molecules while measuring the displacements of trapped particles from their trapping centers with sub-nanometer accuracy and precision.

Abstract: Embodiments include optofluidic apparatus that may be used to detect and manipulate nanoparticles or biomolecules within a fluid. To achieve that result, the embodiments use a fluidic channel located over a substrate. Particular embodiments also use: (1) an optical waveguide located over the substrate and particularly within the fluidic channel along with an optical resonator that may or may not be located within fluidic channel; and also (2) a phase shifter component coupled to either the waveguide or the optical resonator. Additional embodiments use an MZI or an MZI with an optical resonator to further provide the phase shifter component coupled to one arm of the MZI or the optical resonator.

Abstract: In one implementation, a microfluidic device based on optical trapping of particles is disclosed to include a substrate structured to include a fluidic channel which can carry a fluid having particles; and an optical waveguide loop formed on the substrate to include one or more waveguide sections that reside within the fluidic channel, an input optical port for the optical waveguide to receive an input optical beam, and an optical power splitter coupled to the optical waveguide loop to split the received input optical beam into two counter-propagating optical beams that prorogate in the optical waveguide loop in opposite directions and interfere with each other to form standing optical waves in at least the one or more waveguide sections that reside within the fluidic channel to optically trap particles at or near a surface of the one or more waveguide sections that reside within the fluidic channel.

Abstract: In one implementation, a microfluidic device based on optical trapping of particles is disclosed to include a substrate structured to include a fluidic channel which can carry a fluid having particles; and an optical waveguide loop formed on the substrate to include one or more waveguide sections that reside within the fluidic channel, an input optical port for the optical waveguide to receive an input optical beam, and an optical power splitter coupled to the optical waveguide loop to split the received input optical beam into two counter-propagating optical beams that prorogate in the optical waveguide loop in opposite directions and interfere with each other to form standing optical waves in at least the one or more waveguide sections that reside within the fluidic channel to optically trap particles at or near a surface of the one or more waveguide sections that reside within the fluidic channel.

Abstract: Embodiments include optofluidic apparatus that may be used to detect and manipulate nanoparticles or biomolecules within a fluid. To achieve that result, the embodiments use a fluidic channel located over a substrate. Particular embodiments also use: (1) an optical waveguide located over the substrate and particularly within the fluidic channel along with an optical resonator that may or may not be located within fluidic channel; and also (2) a phase shifter component coupled to either the waveguide or the optical resonator. Additional embodiments use an MZI or an MZI with an optical resonator to further provide the phase shifter component coupled to one arm of the MZI or the optical resonator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical trapping particle including a birefringent crystalline particle having a body and a length extending between a first end and a second end, said particle comprising an optic axis perpendicular to the length of the body, wherein the length of the body is greater than the largest width dimension of the first or second ends. The present invention also relates to an optical trapping particle including an optically isotropic particle having a body and a length extending between a first end and a second end, said particle having an asymmetric cross-section, wherein the length of the body is from about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers and is greater than the largest width dimension of the first or second ends. Angular optical trap systems including the optical trapping particles, methods of making, and methods of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of identifying the location of a binding site for a binding molecule on a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, a method of directly determining the equilibrium association constant of a target binding molecule specific to a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, a method of determining the dynamic force signature of a target binding molecule in relation to a binding site on a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, a method of identifying whether a target nucleic acid molecule is present in a sample, a method of producing a restriction map, or a method of identifying whether a target protein is present in a sample. The methods are carried out by comparing the force required to unzip the first and second nucleic acid strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule without and (potentially) with a binding molecule bound to the double-stranded nucleic acid molecule.