Mumbai scientists make cells dance

They made living red blood cells dance to a strong beam of light, transform from oval to cigar-shape, and rotate as fast as 100 revolutions a minute.

‘‘Unexpected,’’ says Deepak Mathur, senior professor, at TIFR’s atomic and molecular sciences department.

The technique opens up potential applications in laser-assisted in vitro fertilisation (assisted reproductive techniques), clearing up clogged arteries, or making micromachines and cellular microchips.

‘‘We have found a way to harness optical energy into mechanical energy with no friction, no contact, no wear and tear,’’ says Mathur, before leaving for Japan on invitation of the University of Tokyo to explain the technique—a global first, published recently in international journals Applied Physics Letters and Optics Express.

Having proven the technique on human and mice cells, the team is now experimenting on cells of different sizes—and species. That’s how a little bit of biology from a camel from Rajasthan, and a tiger from Mumbai’s zoo have made it to slides in the labs here.

LASER SHOW

• In lab conditions similar to the human body, the cells change shape under the focus of a strong laser

• The laser permits control of the cells’ motion, speed, direction

• Based on laser intensity, the cells rotate up to 100 rpm

• Applications—futuristic precision medicine like sensitive malaria diagnosis, in vitro fertilisation, cellular microchips