Abstract

DNA molecules are hard to catch using traditional optical trapping due to the nanometer width of their chains. Here we experimentally demonstrate a label-free optical trapping of a single micrometer $\lambda$-DNA in solution by the aid of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (GNPs), where a double-laser trap induces strong optical interparticle forces for the tweezer. We examine such sub-resolved interparticle forces by tracking the GNP dynamics in solution. Moreover, surface-enhanced Raman scattering signals of trapped $\lambda$-DNA have also been measured simultaneously in the same setup. In comparison with prior works, ours benefit from the excitation in a dynamic configuration without fabrication. This technique opens a new avenue for all-optical manipulation of biomolecules, as well as ultra-sensitive bio-medical sensing applications.

© 2021 Optical Society of America

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