Laser-induced fusion of human embryonic stem cells with optical tweezers

Journal Article · Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4813822· OSTI ID:22122827

Shuxun, Chen; Xiaolin, Wang; Dong, Sun ^[1]; Jinping, Cheng; Han Cheng, Shuk ^[2]; Kong, Chi-Wing ^[3]; Li, Ronald A. ^[3]

---

1. Department of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
2. Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
3. Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Consortium, and Departments of Medicine and Physiology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

We report a study on the laser-induced fusion of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) at the single-cell level. Cells were manipulated by optical tweezers and fused under irradiation with pulsed UV laser at 355 nm. Successful fusion was indicated by green fluorescence protein transfer. The influence of laser pulse energy on the fusion efficiency was investigated. The fused products were viable as gauged by live cell staining. Successful fusion of hESCs with somatic cells was also demonstrated. The reported fusion outcome may facilitate studies of cell differentiation, maturation, and reprogramming.

• OSTI ID: 22122827
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 103, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOPHYSICS
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
EFFICIENCY
FLUORESCENCE
IRRADIATION
LASER RADIATION
PROTEINS
PULSES
RADIATION PRESSURE
STEM CELLS