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Two-dimensional materials possess a large number of interesting and important properties. Various methods have been developed to assemble two-dimensional aggregates. Assembly of colloidal particles can be achieved with laser-heating-induced thermal convective flow. In this paper, an opto-hydrodynamic binding method is proposed to assemble colloidal particles dispersed in a solution into multilayer structures. First, we use polystyrene (PS) microspheres to study the feasibility and characteristics of the assembly method. PS microspheres and monodispersed magnetic silica microspheres (SLEs) are dispersed in a solution to form a binary mixture system. Under the action of an external uniform magnetic field, SLEs in the solution form chains. An SLE chain is heated by a laser beam. Due to the photothermal effect, the SLE chain is heated to produce a thermal gradient, resulting in thermal convection. The thermal convection drives the PS beads to move toward the heated SLE chain and finally stably assemble into multilayer aggregates on both sides of the SLE chain. The laser power affects the speed and result of the assembly. When the laser power is constant, the degree of constraint of the PS microbeads in different layers is also different. At the same time, this method can also assemble the biological cells, and the spacing of different layers of cells can be changed by changing the electrolyte concentration of the solution. Our work provides an approach to assembling colloidal particles and cells, which has a potential application in the analysis of the collective dynamics of microparticles and microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 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]

Laser induced Marangoni convection can be used to accumulate micro-particles. In this paper, a method is developed to control and accumulate the light absorbing particles dispersed in a thin solution layer. The particles are irradiated by a focused laser beam. Due to the photothermal effect of the particles, the laser heating generates a thermal gradient and induces a convective flow around the laser's heating center. The convective flow drives the particles to accumulate and form a particle aggregate close to the laser's heating center. The motion of particles is dominated by the Marangoni convection. When the laser power is high, the vapor bubbles generated by laser heating on particles strengthen the convection, which accelerates the particles' aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]