Hybrid dielectrophoretic-optical trap for microparticles in aqueous suspension

TL;DR

This paper presents a hybrid electro-optical trapping system combining microfabricated electrodes with optical tweezers to enhance manipulation and control of microparticles in aqueous suspension.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel hybrid trap that integrates dielectrophoresis with optical tweezers, enabling simultaneous multi-particle trapping and improved manipulation capabilities.

Findings

Able to trap multiple particles in a single potential well

Enhanced control over particle loading and accumulation

Ability to track individual particle trajectories

Abstract

We demonstrate that a set of microfabricated electrodes can be coupled to a commercial optical tweezers device, implementing a hybrid electro-optical trap with multiple functionalities to manipulate micro/nanoparticles in suspension. Our design allows us to simultaneously trap tens of particles in a single potential well generated in the low electric field region of the electrode arrangement, taking advantage of negative dielectrophoresis. Together with the optical tweezers, we show that the hybrid scheme allows enhanced manipulation capabilities, including controlled loading and accumulation in the dielectrophoretic trap from the optical tweezers, selectivity, and tracking of the individual trajectories of trapped particles.