Analysis of single eukaryotic cells using Raman Tweezers.

Raman Tweezers is a technique that combines optical trapping with Raman spectroscopy and has enabled the spectroscopic analysis of single cells. Applications of this technique include the identification and discrimination of different types of cells, including healthy and non-healthy cells (e.g.

Raman tweezers and their application to the study of singly trapped eukaryotic cells.

In this review the recent emergence of Raman tweezers as an analytical technique for single eukaryotic cell analysis is described. The Raman tweezer technique combines Raman spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool with optical tweezers by which means single cells can be trapped and manipulated in a laser beam using a high numerical aperture imaging microscope. Necessary instrumental requirements to facilitate Raman tweezer experiments are discussed together with practical considerations such as the potential for photodamage of cells subjected to trapping and Raman excitation.

Classification of fixed urological cells using Raman tweezers.

In this paper we report on preliminary investigations into using Raman tweezers to classify urological cell lines. This builds on earlier work within the group, whereby Raman tweezer methodologies were developed, and the application of this technique to differentiate between live prostate cancer (CaP) and bladder cells lines (PC-3 and MGH-U1 respectively) was demonstrated.In this present study we analysed chemically fixed cells using two different fixative methods; SurePath (a commercial available liquid based cytology media) and 4% v/v formalin/PBS fixatives.

Spectral discrimination of live prostate and bladder cancer cell lines using Raman optical tweezers.

An investigation into the use of Raman optical tweezers to study urological cell lines is reported, with the ultimate aim of determining the presence of malignant CaP cells in urine and peripheral fluids. To this end, we trapped and analyzed live CaP cells (PC-3) and bladder cells (MGH-U1), because both prostate and bladder cells are likely to be present in urine. The laser excitation wavelength of 514.

Measurement of elastic properties of prostate cancer cells using AFM.

This communication reports that three prostate cancer cells of differing metastatic potential were discriminated based on their Young's moduli (LNCaP - 287 +/- 52 N m(-2), PC-3 - 1401 +/- 162 N m(-2) and BPH - 2797 +/- 491 N m(-2)) which were determined using AFM and the Hertz model.

Discrimination of prostate cancer cells by reflection mode FTIR photoacoustic spectroscopy.

In this communication reflection mode Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) is used to obtain IR spectra of four prostate and prostate cancer cell line types (CaP) allowing their differentiation by principal components analysis.

The effect of temperature and NaCl concentration on the kinetic method of toxicity determination using Vibrio fischeri.

In this paper the effect of temperature and NaCl concentration on the kinetic method of toxicity determination using Vibrio fischeri was studied for 50 ppm Zn(2+). This work shows that both NaCl concentration and temperature affect the kinetics of toxicity as well as the luminescence of the bacteria, and hence these are important factors that need to be considered in the development of a miniaturised portable instrument. Furthermore, this work shows that the conditions for which the kinetic test was most sensitive, i.

Water toxicity monitoring using Vibrio fischeri: a method free of interferences from colour and turbidity.

In this paper the kinetic method for the determination of toxicity using Vibrio fischeri is described and suggested as a potential method for the continuous screening of wastewater toxicity. The kinetic method was demonstrated to be free from interferences due to colour and turbidity normally observed when testing wastewater samples with this organism. This is of great importance for the application of the method to remote toxicity screening of wastewaters.