CONTENTS
8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 148
8.2 Cell Mechanical Modeling ....................................................................... 150
8.3 Cell Manipulation with Optical Tweezers ............................................. 153
8.3.1 Optical Tweezer System ................................................................ 153
8.3.2 Experimental Materials Preparation ........................................... 155
8.3.3 Force Calibration ............................................................................ 155
8.3.4 Robotic Manipulation of Microbeads ......................................... 156
8.3.5 Optical Stretching of Human RBCs ............................................ 157
8.4 Results and Discussion ............................................................................. 158
8.5 Summary ..................................................................................................... 161
References ............................................................................................................. 161
8
Biomechanical Characterization of Human
Red Blood Cells with Optical Tweezers
Youhua Tan and Dong Sun
City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China
Wenhao Huang
University of Science and Technology of China
Hefei, China
Abstract
Human red blood cells (RBCs) are essential for transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide for human bodies. The mechanical properties of cells are crucial to the exercise of normal cellular functions.
Abnormity of cell mechanics may cause disorders. In this chapter, the
biomechanical properties of human RBCs in hypotonic conditions are
investigated using robotic manipulation technology with optical tweezers to understand the correlation between cell mechanics and osmotic
environments. Optical traps serve as end-effectors to manipulate microbeads attached to the cell surface. The cell is stretched by progressively
increasing the distance between the bead and the binding site, where the
induced deformation responses are recorded for analysis. To extract the
147
8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 148
8.2 Cell Mechanical Modeling ....................................................................... 150
8.3 Cell Manipulation with Optical Tweezers ............................................. 153
8.3.1 Optical Tweezer System ................................................................ 153
8.3.2 Experimental Materials Preparation ........................................... 155
8.3.3 Force Calibration ............................................................................ 155
8.3.4 Robotic Manipulation of Microbeads ......................................... 156
8.3.5 Optical Stretching of Human RBCs ............................................ 157
8.4 Results and Discussion ............................................................................. 158
8.5 Summary ..................................................................................................... 161
References ............................................................................................................. 161
8
Biomechanical Characterization of Human
Red Blood Cells with Optical Tweezers
Youhua Tan and Dong Sun
City University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China
Wenhao Huang
University of Science and Technology of China
Hefei, China
Abstract
Human red blood cells (RBCs) are essential for transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide for human bodies. The mechanical properties of cells are crucial to the exercise of normal cellular functions.
Abnormity of cell mechanics may cause disorders. In this chapter, the
biomechanical properties of human RBCs in hypotonic conditions are
investigated using robotic manipulation technology with optical tweezers to understand the correlation between cell mechanics and osmotic
environments. Optical traps serve as end-effectors to manipulate microbeads attached to the cell surface. The cell is stretched by progressively
increasing the distance between the bead and the binding site, where the
induced deformation responses are recorded for analysis. To extract the
147