Biomedical subjects

J M Dziedzic

Publications and source records attributed to J M Dziedzic.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Controlled micromanipulation of human sperm in three dimensions with an infrared laser optical trap: effect on sperm velocity.

Individual human sperm can be micromanipulated in three dimensions using a 1.06 microns Nd:YAG laser trap. Single sperm swimming with velocities in the range of 65 to 85 microns/sec can be trapped with 40 mW of power through 120 seconds without a deleterious effect on velocity. Even though it will be necessary to further evaluate the effects of laser light on specific functions of sperm, our data suggest that decreasing the time of manipulation to a minimum will increase the safety of the micromanipulation procedures. Laser traps may play a role in assisted reproductive technology by facilitating the selective transport of individual sperm.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1990

Force generation of organelle transport measured in vivo by an infrared laser trap.

Organelle transport along microtubules is believed to be mediated by organelle-associated force-generating molecules. Two classes of microtubule-based organelle motors have been identified: kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein. To correlate the mechanochemical basis of force generation with the in vivo behaviour of organelles, it is important to quantify the force needed to propel an organelle along microtubules and to determine the force generated by a single motor molecule. Measurements of force generation are possible under selected conditions in vitro, but are much more difficult using intact or reactivated cells. Here we combine a useful model system for the study of organelle transport, the giant amoeba Reticulomyxa, with a novel technique for the non-invasive manipulation of and force application to subcellular components, which is based on a gradient-force optical trap, also referred to as 'optical tweezers'. We demonstrate the feasibility of using controlled manipulation of actively translocating organelles to measure direct force. We have determined the force driving a single organelle along microtubules, allowing us to estimate the force generated by a single motor to be 2.6 x 10(-7) dynes.

Amoeba↗

PubMed1989

Internal cell manipulation using infrared laser traps.

The ability of infrared laser traps to apply controlled forces inside of living cells is utilized in a study of the mechanical properties of the cytoplasm of plant cells. It was discovered that infrared traps are capable of plucking out long filaments of cytoplasm inside cells. These filaments exhibit the viscoelastic properties of plastic flow, necking, stress relaxation, and set, thus providing a unique way to probe the local rheological properties of essentially unperturbed living cells. A form of internal cell surgery was devised that is capable of making gross changes in location of such relatively large organelles as chloroplasts and nuclei. The utility of this technique for the study of cytoplasmic streaming, internal cell membranes, and organelle attachment was demonstrated.

Cell Physiological Phenomena↗

PubMed1987

Optical trapping and manipulation of viruses and bacteria.

Optical trapping and manipulation of viruses and bacteria by laser radiation pressure were demonstrated with single-beam gradient traps. Individual tobacco mosaic viruses and dense oriented arrays of viruses were trapped in aqueous solution with no apparent damage using approximately 120 milliwatts of argon laser power. Trapping and manipulation of single live motile bacteria and Escherichia coli bacteria were also demonstrated in a high-resolution microscope at powers of a few milliwatts.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Optical trapping and manipulation of single cells using infrared laser beams.

Use of optical traps for the manipulation of biological particles was recently proposed, and initial observations of laser trapping of bacteria and viruses with visible argon-laser light were reported. We report here the use of infrared (IR) light to make much improved laser traps with significantly less optical damage to a variety of living cells. Using IR light we have observed the reproduction of Escherichia coli within optical traps at power levels sufficient to give manipulation at velocities up to approximately 500 micron s-1. Reproduction of yeast cells by budding was also achieved in IR traps capable of manipulating individual cells and clumps of cells at velocities of approximately micron s-1. Damage-free trapping and manipulation of suspensions of red blood cells of humans and of organelles located within individual living cells of spirogyra was also achieved, largely as a result of the reduced absorption of haemoglobin and chlorophyll in the IR. Trapping of many types of small protozoa and manipulation of organelles within protozoa is also possible. The manipulative capabilities of optical techniques were exploited in experiments showing separation of individual bacteria from one sample and their introduction into another sample. Optical orientation of individual bacterial cells in space was also achieved using a pair of laser-beam traps. These new manipulative techniques using IR light are capable of producing large forces under damage-free conditions and improve the prospects for wider use of optical manipulation techniques in microbiology.

Animals↗