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Cell assembly has important applications in biomedical research, which can be achieved with laser-heating induced thermal convective flow. In this paper, an opto-thermal approach is developed to assemble the yeast cells dispersed in solution. At first, polystyrene (PS) microbeads are used instead of cells to explore the method of microparticle assembly. The PS microbeads and light absorbing particles (APs) are dispersed in solution and form a binary mixture system. Optical tweezers are used to trap an AP at the substrate glass of the sample cell. Due to the optothermal effect, the trapped AP is heated and a thermal gradient is generated, which induces a thermal convective flow. The convective flow drives the microbeads moving toward and assembling around the trapped AP. Then, the method is used to assemble the yeast cells. The results show that the initial concentration ratio of yeast cells to APs affects the eventual assembly pattern. The binary microparticles with different initial concentration ratios assemble into aggregates with different area ratios. The experiment and simulation results show that the dominant factor in the area ratio of yeast cells in the binary aggregate is the velocity ratio of the yeast cells to the APs. Our work provides an approach to assemble the cells, which has a potential application in the analysis of microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to trap and rotate magnetic particles has important applications in biophysical research and optical micromachines. However, it is difficult to achieve the spin rotation of magnetic particles with optical tweezers due to the limit in transferring spin angular momentum of light. Here, we propose a method to obtain controlled spin rotation of a magnetic microparticle by the phoretic torque, which is originated from inhomogeneous heating of the microparticle's surface. The microparticle is trapped and rotated nearby the laser focus center. The rotation frequency is several Hertz and can be controlled by adjusting the laser power. Our work provides a method to the study of optical rotation of microscopic magnetic particles, which will push toward both translational and rotational manipulation of the microparticles simultaneously in a single optical trap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photothermal effects have shown the possibilities for applications in optical manipulation. In this paper, an approach is demonstrated to generate and manipulate a bubble using the photothermal effects. First, a high-power laser is used to irradiate the light absorbing particles for creating a microbubble. The bubble grows up to a diameter of a few hundred micrometers in several seconds due to the diffusion of dissolved gases. The bubble does not float up and is confined at the lower boundary of the sample cell by the thermocapillary force. The force is induced by laser heating of the particles at the bubble base. Second, the bubble can be manipulated following the laser focal spot. The bubble is dragged by the horizontal component of thermocapillary force. The bubble re-grows as it moves because it absorbs the dissolved gases in its migration path. The bubble floats up finally when it grows up to the maximum size. The perpendicular component of thermocapillary force can be estimated equal to the buoyancy of the floated bubble and is about 38 nN at the laser power of 130 mW. Furthermore, we show the generation and manipulation of the bubbles in a capillary. The reason for the decrease in movement velocity in the capillaries has been studied and discussed. The approach of bubble manipulation shows a potential application in transporting the microparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]