Uploaded April 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Optical trapping of single red blood cell within a living mouse. Red blood cells can only flow one by one in the capillary. When the flow is slow enough and the trapping force overcomes the drag force, RBCs are trapped and remain in the optical trap. (bar=10 µm. "+" indicates the optical trap center.)
Researchers in China have figured out how to use a laser to clog and then clear a blocked blood vessel in a live mouse, without surgery. This is the first time scientists have been able to externally manipulate cells inside a living animal, and it could lead to a safer way to unclog arteries in the future.
The technique relies on a tool called optical tweezers. Each pair of pincers is actually made of a single, focused laser beam. Technically the optical tweezers don't come into direct contact with the cells. Instead, they push them around using the small amount of momentum from the photons in the beam.
Read the full story at: discovermagazine.com/health/watch-this-using-lasers-to-manipulate-blood-flow-in-live-mice
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Credit: Li et al./Nature Communications
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Optical trapping of single red blood cell within a living mouse. Red blood cells can only flow one by one in the capillary. When the flow is slow enough and the trapping force overcomes the drag force, RBCs are trapped and remain in the optical trap. (bar=10 µm. "+" indicates the optical trap center.)
Researchers in China have figured out how to use a laser to clog and then clear a blocked blood vessel in a live mouse, without surgery. This is the first time scientists have been able to externally manipulate cells inside a living animal, and it could lead to a safer way to unclog arteries in the future.
The technique relies on a tool called optical tweezers. Each pair of pincers is actually made of a single, focused laser beam. Technically the optical tweezers don't come into direct contact with the cells. Instead, they push them around using the small amount of momentum from the photons in the beam.
Read the full story at: discovermagazine.com/health/watch-this-using-lasers-to-manipulate-blood-flow-in-live-mice
—
Credit: Li et al./Nature Communications
—
ABOUT DISCOVER:
Discover is your source for science that matters, makes sense and is a lot of fun, too.
Visit us at: discovermagazine.com
FOLLOW US:
Facebook: facebook.com/DiscoverMag
Twitter: twitter.com/DiscoverMag
Instagram: instagram.com/discover.magazine
SUPPORT US:
Subscribe to Discover: bit.ly/34seAFT
Sign up for our newsletter: discovermagazine.com/newsletter-signup
My Science Shop: myscienceshop.com
STAY CURIOUS!
