Precision interaction of femtosecond lasers with subcellular compartments (Conference Presentation)

Precise manipulation of subcellular targets is essential for understanding cellular functions. Femtosecond infrared pulses can perform unique functions like organelle perturbation and membrane fusion in live cells. However, conventional platforms lack chemical guidance and real-time response for targeting mobile molecular targets. We developed real-time precision opto-control (RPOC) technology to detect and perturb chemical targets within cells using femtosecond lasers, avoiding unwanted locations. Using this technology, we systematically studied the impact of peak and average power of femtosecond laser pulses on different subcellular organelles. Our findings reveal important information on how femtosecond lasers interact with different subcellular compartments. RPOC shows promise for achieving precise, chemically guided microsurgery at the single-cell level.