Plasmonic Optical Tweezers for Particle Manipulation: Principles, Methods, and Applications

Inspired by the idea of combining conventional optical tweezers with plasmonic nanostructures, a technique named (POT) has been widely explored from fundamental principles to applications. With ability break diffraction barrier and enhance localized electromagnetic field, POT techniques are especially effective for high spatial-resolution manipulation nanoscale or even subnanoscale objects, small bioparticles atoms. In addition, can be easily integrated other such as lab-on-chip devices, which results in very promising alternative high-throughput single-bioparticle sensing imaging. Despite its label-free, high-precision, high-spatial-resolution nature, it also suffers some limitations. One main obstacles is that nanostructures located over surfaces substrate, makes turn three-dimensional problem nearly two-dimensional problem. Meanwhile, operation zone limited predefined area. Therefore, target objects must delivered near structures. This review summarizes state-of-the-art delivery methods POT-based particle manipulating technique, along applications analysis/imaging, bioparticle purifying, single-atom manipulation. Future developmental perspectives discussed.