Laser based cell manipulation with nanoparticles and optogenetics

Laser allow high resolution imaging and manipulation of cells due to the high spatial confinement of focused laser light and the precise selectivity and contrast by its high spectral density. The recent developments in optogenetics utilize these advantages by introducing optically switchable proteins into cells by genetic modification. However, most of these optical switches are usually excitable in the visible range, limiting the applicability in tissue, due to the limited penetration depth. We apply near-infrared wavelengths within the so-called optical window of tissue and nanoparticles, using nonlinear effects and plasmonic resonances to shift these infrared wavelength into the visible at these particles, thereby allowing NIR stimulation of optogenetically modified tissues. In my talk I will cover aspects of plasmon resonances at gold nanoparticles, two photon excitation and upconverting nanoparticles to excite neuronal and heart muscle tissue with optogenetics.