Robotic Micromanipulation of Cells and Small Organisms

Abstract

This chapter reviews the systems, techniques, and methodologies for robotic manipulation of cells and small organisms. It discusses robotic biosample transfer, which includes the transportation of cells or small organisms to a desirable target location. Examples of biosample transfer include the relocation of a nucleus or other organelles inside a cell or the relocation of cells within the culture medium. New advancements in robotic micromanipulation have opened up many new options for biosample transfer. The chapter introduces robotic techniques for mechanical characterization of biosamples, which has attracted significant research interests from the fields of both engineering and biological/medical sciences. Mechanical characterization of single cells provides useful information for a robotic system on how to interact with delicate cells. The chapter discusses four major strategies of cell mechanical characterization, including micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based characterization, micropipette aspiration, laser trapping-based characterization, and atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based characterization.