OPTICAL TWEEZERS IN PHARMACOLOGY

Current applications of optical tweezers in pharmacology are presented . The manufacture of cellular biosensor arrays employing optical tweez ers is reviewed. Using this technique, a new approach to cellular drug screening, based on single cells patterned with the laser tweezers wa s introduced. Specific stimulation of different immobilized, viable ce lls could be shown simultaneously. Furthermore, the usefulness of opti cal tweezers for analyzing the interactions of ligands with cellular m embrane receptors is demonstrated. The laser tweezers could successful ly be used to compare neuron interactions with glycoproteins of the ex tracellular matrix by applying the optical tweezers as picotensometer. The forces of interactions between polystyrene beads coated with diff erent proteins of the extracellular matrix and the cell membrane recep tors of cerebellar neurons from postnatal day 6 (P6) mice were measure d. When antibodies to the extracellular matrix proteins were added, fo rces were significantly reduced for the corresponding antigens but not for the other glycoproteins. This proved the specificity of the measu red interactions. Information regarding the receptor anchorage of tena scin-C could be deduced.