Objective Optical manipulation of micro-scale objects, optical tweezers (OT), have proven themselves as a powerful interdisciplinary tool. They have enabled fundamental research in physics, biology, and engineering e.g. in colloid studies, measuring the mechanical p roperties and behaviour of single biological molecules (DNA, proteins). The aim of this NEST proposal is to take optical trapping into a new dimension for the 21st century with novel, exciting and adventurous ideas that will advance the optical "toolkit" t o an unprecedented level. To realise the full impact of this technology some important, radical advances are necessary. The conventional OT technique offers little flexibility for tailoring the optical potential in 3-D space. We aim to develop a hierarchy of systems based on dynamic optical elements to achieve arbitrary 3D patterns for light traps and some of them will reach nanometre sized trapping volumes. This will open the way towards trapping and localising tiny biological samples like viruses and DNA directly which is not possible with the current techniques. Micro- and nano-scale manipulation of a plurality of arbitrarily shaped microstructures using multiple optical trapping-beams will bring exciting future applications across a range of science in m icrofluidics, advanced biology and colloid science. New forms of OT will give insights into Brownian dynamics, fractionation of colloidal and biological matter and even into molecular processes. A substantial amount of pioneering, high-risk, high-return wo rk has to be undertaken to truly bring this work to fruition. The consortium involves seven complementary groups covering relevant fields for the work proposed. They are ideally assembled to exploit this emergent technology in a number of key directions an d we have exactly the right complementary expertise to rapidly realise all the ideas put forward here. We aim to propel EU research in this field to a world leading position in a rapid space of time. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins Keywords Nanotechnology Risk Assessment mesoscopic physics microfluidics molecular manipulation optical trapping Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Call for proposal FP6-2003-NEST-A See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS Address College gate north street KY16 9AJ St andrews United Kingdom See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Hungary EU contribution € 0,00 Address Temesvari krt. 62 Szeged See on map Links Website Opens in new window FUNDACAO PRIVADA INSTITUT DE CIENCES FOTONIQUES Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address Jordi girona, 29 - nexus ii Barcelona See on map Links Website Opens in new window GOETEBORGS UNIVERSITET Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Vasaparken Goeteborg See on map Links Website Opens in new window INSTITUTE OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS, ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC Czechia EU contribution € 0,00 Address Kralovopolska 147 Brno See on map Links Website Opens in new window RISOE NATIONAL LABORATORY Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address Frederiksborgvej 399 Roskilde See on map Links Website Opens in new window THALES France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 45 rue de villiers Neuilly sur seine See on map Links Website Opens in new window
