Optical nanotweezers for biomedical and environmental science

Extracellular vesicles and particles (EVPs), once considered as a means for cells to expel wastes, are now recognized as vital mediators of cell-to-cell communication. They transport essential molecules like mRNA, miRNA, proteins, and lipids, facilitating both local and long-distance signaling. However, their diverse origins and sizes pose a challenge for understanding their roles in health and disease. Traditional optical tweezers face limitations due to the small size of EVPs and the diffraction limit of light. In this discussion, I will introduce innovative optical nanotweezers utilizing plasmonic and dielectric nanoantennas to rapidly trap and analyze single EVPs, overcoming previous obstacles. These novel non-invasive light-based tools with multifunctional capabilities are expected to open new horizons by enabling to address fundamental questions in EVP biology and drive translational applications in novel therapeutics, as well as environmental monitoring.