Physics (Internal)

Optical Tweezers Shed Light on Cell Biology

This event is part of the Biophysics/Condensed Matter Seminar Series.

Abstract: We are fusing recent advances in optics and materials science to create a flexible toolkit for exploring the interactions of cells with their environments. I will discuss two biological questions concerning the interplay of biochemistry and mechanics as well as the technologies that are developing to address them. For studies of neutrophil chemotaxis, we are developing optically manipulated microsources to provide flexible spatio-temporal control of the concentration profiles of soluble molecules. To study mechanotransduction in neuronal guidance, we are developing multiplexed closed-loop force measurements that probe the internal feedback loops that regulate cells’ mechanics.