Nève N, Lingwood JK, Zimmerman J, Kohles SS, Tretheway DC. The μPIVOT: an integrated particle image velocimeter and optical tweezers instrument for microenvironment investigations.
Meas Sci Technol 2008;
19:95403. [PMID:
18953424 PMCID:
PMC2572229 DOI:
10.1088/0957-0233/19/9/095403]
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Abstract
A novel instrument to manipulate and characterize the mechanical environment in and around microscale objects in a fluidic environment has been developed by integrating two laser-based techniques: micron-resolution particle image velocimetry (μPIV) and optical tweezers (OT). This instrument, the μPIVOT, enables a new realm of microscale studies, yet still maintains the individual capabilities of each optical technique. This was demonstrated with individual measurements of optical trap stiffness (∼70 pN μm(-1) for a 20 μm polystyrene sphere and a linear relationship between trap stiffness and laser power) and fluid velocities within 436 nm of a microchannel wall. The integrated device was validated by comparing computational flow predictions to the measured velocity profile around a trapped particle in either a uniform flow or an imposed, gravity-driven microchannel flow (R(2) = 0.988, RMS error = 13.04 μm s(-1)). Interaction between both techniques is shown to be negligible for 15 μm to 35 μm diameter trapped particles subjected to fluid velocities from 50 μm s(-1) to 500 μm s(-1) even at the highest laser power (1.45 W). The integrated techniques will provide a unique perspective toward understanding microscale phenomena including single-cell biomechanics, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics and single particle or particle-particle hydrodynamics.
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