P. B. Kraikivski, L. N. Gall
Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS, Saint-Petersburg
Optical tweezers are used to quantitatively measure small
forces and displacement of moving objects. In biological applications of
optical trapping and manipulation, it is possible to remotely apply controlled
forces to living cells, internal parts of cells, and large biological molecules
without detectable optical damage. This paper reviews the early developments
in the field leading to the use of optical tweezers in biology.