Manipulation of live mouse embryonic stem cells using holographic optical tweezers

We report the ability to move and arrange patterns of live embryonic stem cells using holographic optical tweezers. Single cell suspensions of mouse embryonic stem cells were manipulated with holographic optical tweezers into a variety of patterns including lines, curves and circles. Individual cells were also lifted out of the sample plane highlighting the potential for 3D positional control. Trypan blue dye exclusion and Live/Dead (TM) staining (CMFDA(-1), EthHD(-1)) showed that the cells were still viable after manipulation with the optical tweezers. The ability to move individual stem cells into specific, pre-defined patterns provides a method to study how arrangement and associated small-scale interactions occur between neighbouring cells.