The advent of methods, such as optical tweezers, to detect and manipulate single macromolecules has unleashed a new frontier in biological physics, especially at the nanoscale. Despite rapid advances in optical tweezers technology, its full impact on biomedicine, nanomedicine, the nanobiotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries, and clinical research markets remains far from fully realized. To date, nearly all of the high-resolution optical tweezers suitable for single molecule experimentation are locally built and thus limited to a handful of academic labs around the world. The biggest barrier to entry in this field remains the lack of adequate, commercially-available optical tweezers systems, which would allow a broader user community to exploit these new tools for single molecule analysis and control. Therefore, in order to bring ultra-high-resolution optical tweezers to a broader audience of researchers, and for a variety of applications, this project will refine and commercialize an existing optical-tweezers apparatus. Phase I will construct a first-generation instrumentation prototype with improved software modules. To demonstrate feasibility, single molecule DNA-enzyme studies will be demonstrated under constant-force conditions.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The removal of barriers to entry for optical tweezers technology should unleash a rapid demand by a growing base of customers and end-users. Potential customers could be provided with custom design and construction of optical tweezers systems, as well as with installation and ongoing technical consulting services. Potential markets not only would include the traditional research domains of optical tweezers (e.g., single molecule biophysics and nanobiology), but also would include researchers and clinicians in areas as diverse as molecular diagnostics, pathology, oncology, drug discovery, and nano-machining
