Hydrosomes and Optical Tweezers: What Can We Do With the World s Smallest Test Tubes?

Published

February 1, 2004

Author(s)

Joseph E. Reiner, Rani B. Kishore, Kristian Helmerson, M K. Gilson

Abstract

Hydrosomes are micron sized surfactant stabilized water droplets in a fluorocarbon background. Different chemicals can be mixed with the water droplets to form subpicoliter-sized containers. When two hydrosomes come into contact with each other they spontaneously fuse and form a single hydrosome. We have used a single focus laser trap, optical tweezers, to trap and manipulate individual hydrosomes. We plan to use hydrosomes for single molecule fluorescence studies where the molecules are free to move within the trapped hydrosome and for fluorescence activated molecular separation. Both proposals require the formation of one or several hydrosomes on demand. This poster will present progress on the development of this hydrosome formation technology along with a full description of the single molecule and molecular sorter proposals.

Proceedings Title

Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Poster Presentations, 2004

Conference Dates

February 19-20, 2004

Conference Location

Undefined

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

hydrosomes, optical tweezers, test tubes

Citation

Reiner, J. , Kishore, R. , Helmerson, K. and Gilson, M. (2004), Hydrosomes and Optical Tweezers: What Can We Do With the World s Smallest Test Tubes?, Sigma Xi Postdoctoral Poster Presentations, 2004, Undefined (Accessed October 9, 2025)