Nanomanipulation and nanotechnology for future diagnostics

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2008:134:135-42.

Abstract

Nanomanipulation is a technology to manipulate a small object sized in nanometer to submicron scale. Optical tweezers is one of nanomanipulation techniques, which can investigate pico-newton to femto-newton force exerted on microscopic objects. We have developed a cell palpation system by use of optical tweezers and performed palpation experiments on cells. With the cell palpation system, an operator manipulates a probe particle to touch a certain location of a cell and feels the strength of the cell by hand through a haptic device, which displays force calculated and generated by a computer. We expect this technique can be used in diagnostic purpose and utilized not only in research field but also in daily medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Physiological Phenomena*
  • Humans
  • Micromanipulation / instrumentation*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Optical Tweezers*
  • Palpation