AUTHOR=Yang Yi , Fu Zhenhai , Zhu Wei , Hu Huizhu , Wang Jian’an 

TITLE=Application of optical tweezers in cardiovascular research: More than just a measuring tool

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.947918

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.947918

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>Recent advances in the field of optical tweezer technology have shown intriguing potential for applications in cardiovascular medicine, bringing this laboratory nanomechanical instrument into the spotlight of translational medicine. This article summarizes cardiovascular system findings generated using optical tweezers, including not only rigorous nanomechanical measurements but also multifunctional manipulation of biologically active molecules such as myosin and actin, of cells such as red blood cells and cardiomyocytes, of subcellular organelles, and of microvessels <italic>in vivo</italic>. The implications of these findings in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as potential perspectives that could also benefit from this tool, are also discussed.</p>