Optical fiber tips for biological applications: From light confinement, biosensing to bioparticles manipulation

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Paiva, JS (Author) Other; Jorge, PAS (Author) FCUP; Rosa, CC (Author) FCUP; Cunha, JPS (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - General Subjects

Vol. 1862

Pages: 1209-1246

ISSN: 0304-4165

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 42 Citations

Scopus - 50 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-JVR

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.02.008

Abstract (EN): Background: The tip of an optical fiber has been considered an attractive platform in Biology. The simple cleaved end of an optical fiber can be machined, patterned and/or functionalized, acquiring unique properties enabling the exploitation of novel optical phenomena. Prompted by the constant need to measure and manipulate nanoparticles, the invention of the Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) triggered the optimization and development of novel fiber tip microfabrication methods. In fact, the fiber tip was soon considered a key element in SNOM by confining light to sufficiently small extensions, challenging the diffraction limit. As result and in consequence of the newly proposed "Lab On Tip" concept, several geometries of fiber tips were applied in three main fields: imaging (in Microscopy/Spectroscopy), biosensors and micromanipulation (Optical Fiber Tweezers, OFTs). These are able to exert forces on microparticles, trap and manipulate them for relevant applications, as biomolecules mechanical study or protein aggregates unfolding. Scope of review: This review presents an overview of the main achievements, most impactful studies and limitations of fiber tip-based configurations within the above three fields, along the past 10 years. Major conclusions: OFTs could be in future a valuable tool for studying several cellular phenomena such as neurodegeneration caused by abnormal protein fibrils or manipulating organelles within cells. This could contribute to understand the mechanisms of some diseases or biophenomena, as the axonal growth in neurons.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 38