When experimental targets shrink to single cells, particles, or even nanomaterials, the real challenge is often not simply seeing them, but achieving stable manipulation, precise sorting, automated processing, and reliable detection at the microscale.
Optoelectronic tweezers use programmable light fields to generate dynamic “virtual electrodes,” enabling non-contact manipulation of cells, particles, and micromechanical structures. Digital microfluidics controls discrete droplets through software, integrating sample processing, reactions, washing, and detection on a chip. Combined further with artificial intelligence, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, CRISPR, and hyperspectral interferometric detection, these technologies are moving microscale experiments from isolated operations toward automation, integration, and intelligence.
Around core technologies including optoelectronic tweezers and micro-/nanomanipulation, OptoSeeker Biotech and collaborating research teams continue to advance optoelectronic-tweezers and digital-microfluidics research. Their work has been published in leading journals including Applied Physics Reviews, Chemical Society Reviews, Advanced Materials, Advanced Science, ACS Nano, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Nano Letters.
In this issue, we present the published papers across six research and application areas to make them easier to browse:
Reviews and Technology Landscape
Micro-/Nanomanipulation, Assembly, and Micromachines
Cell Analysis and Label-Free Sorting
Extracellular Vesicles and Complex Biological-Sample Analysis
Clinical Diagnostics and Molecular Detection
Environmental and Biosafety Detection
Each highlight includes the original paper and a corresponding popular-science article. Scan the “Original Paper” QR code to view the complete study, or click “Article Explainer” to learn more about the underlying mechanisms and application scenarios.
I. Reviews and Technology Landscape
Optoelectronic Tweezers: A General Toolbox for Nano-/Microscale Manipulation
This review systematically summarizes the working mechanisms, device structures, photoconductive materials, and experimental systems of optoelectronic tweezers. It introduces applications in micro-/nanoparticle assembly, cell manipulation, tissue engineering, biosensing, micromachines, and microfluidic integration, and discusses commercialization and future challenges.
Zhang S, et al., Chemical Society Reviews, 2022, 51: 9203–9242
Paper title:Optoelectronic Tweezers: A Versatile Toolbox for Nano-/Micro-Manipulation
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Optoelectronic Tweezers Meet Microfluidics to Build an Intelligent Micro-/Nanomanipulation and Biochemical-Analysis Platform
This review systematically traces the development of optoelectronic tweezers (OET) since their introduction in 2005. It focuses on how OET integrates with channel microfluidics, digital microfluidics, and optoelectrowetting, covering continuous-flow cell sorting, discrete-droplet manipulation, single-cell analysis, micro-/nanoparticle assembly, and biochemical detection. It also points out that, with advances in new photoconductive materials, AI-based visual recognition and path planning, automated droplet processing, and disposable-chip manufacturing, OET microfluidic systems are moving from the laboratory toward standardized, automated, and commercialized intelligent life-science platforms.
Li Z, et al., Applied Physics Reviews, 2026, 13(2): 021319
Paper title:Optoelectronic Tweezers Meet Microfluidics: A Powerful Approach for Micromanipulation and Biochemical Analysis
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II. Micro-/Nanomanipulation, Assembly, and Micromachines
Optimizing Light-Pattern Curvature to Improve the Speed and Stability of Optoelectronic-Tweezer Manipulation
This study systematically analyzes how light-pattern curvature affects optoelectronic-tweezer performance. By manipulating polystyrene particles of different sizes with semicircular light patterns of different curvature, the researchers reveal how light-pattern geometry affects horizontal and vertical dielectrophoretic forces, particle equilibrium position, maximum speed, and manipulation stability. The work provides quantitative guidance for matching suitable light-pattern parameters to targets of different sizes.
Xu B, et al., Optics Express, 2025, 33(2): 2968–2979
Paper title:Optimizing Light Pattern Curvature to Improve the Performance of Optoelectronic Tweezers in Micromanipulation
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Optoelectronic Tweezers Enable Automated, Parallel, and Collision-Free Navigation of Multiple Targets
The study integrates target recognition, target assignment, multi-target path planning, and adaptive light-pattern design into an optoelectronic-tweezers system, enabling multiple particles to plan routes automatically through complex microenvironments containing dense obstacles and narrow channels.
When multiple annular light patterns overlap, the system dynamically adjusts their shapes according to the surrounding environment, preserving an independent manipulation space for each particle. In experiments, ten 10 μm-diameter polystyrene particles successfully passed through microchannels and entered designated microcavities without any target loss.
Zheng L, et al., Microsystems & Nanoengineering, 2025, 11: 49
Paper title:Automated and Collision-Free Navigation of Multiple Micro-Objects in Obstacle-Dense Microenvironments Using Optoelectronic Tweezers
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Optoelectronic Traps Drive Reconfigurable, Self-Healing Topological Self-Assembly
The study uses optoelectronic traps to regulate dielectrophoretic forces and electrostatic interactions between particles, allowing metal microspheres and polystyrene microspheres to spontaneously form ordered dipole arrays and polygonal lattices in a light field.
When the assembled structure is disturbed, restorative dielectrophoretic forces drive the particles back toward a stable configuration. Changing the light-pattern shape further tunes the structure and enables controlled topological transitions. The study also uses yeast cells to validate the method's applicability to biological samples.
Xu B, et al., Laser & Photonics Reviews, 2026, 20(7): e01697
Paper title:Tuning Self-Assembled Topological Dipoles in Optoelectronic Traps
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Light-Driven Multicomponent Micromachines Enable Three-Dimensional Motion Transfer Across Planes
The study uses optoelectronic tweezers to assemble, flip, and drive multiple micromechanical components, building a three-dimensional microgear system capable of transferring motion between different spatial planes.
Charge-induced repulsion reduces friction between micromechanical components, while dielectrophoretic force enables vertical levitation and cross-plane meshing of the microgears. This extends micromachines from conventional two-dimensional coplanar motion to three-dimensional mechanical transmission, providing a new route for microfluidic control, microelectromechanical systems, and microrobots.
Li G, et al., Advanced Materials, 2025, 37(17): 2417742
Paper title:Crossing the Dimensional Divide with Optoelectronic Tweezers: Multicomponent Light-Driven Micromachines with Motion Transfer in Three Dimensions
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III. Cell Analysis and Label-Free Sorting
Deep Learning-Assisted Digital Microfluidics Enables Parallel Label-Free Cell Sorting
The study combines active-matrix digital microfluidics, the YOLOv8 object-recognition model, and a safe-zone path-planning algorithm. Based on cellular morphological features, the system performs droplet recognition, classification, path planning, and parallel sorting, reducing reliance on fluorescent antibodies or magnetic-bead labels.
In mixed samples of HeLa cells and polystyrene microspheres, the YOLOv8 object-recognition model achieved a mean average precision of 98.5%, sorting purity of 96.49%, and a recovery rate of 80% after three rounds of sorting. The study also validated sorting of HeLa cells from red blood cells, HeLa cells from Jurkat cells, and HL-60 cells from Jurkat cells. Sorted cells can be lysed directly in droplets, reducing sample-transfer loss.
Guo Z, et al., Advanced Science, 2025, 12(1): 2408353
Paper title:Deep Learning-Assisted Label-Free Parallel Cell Sorting with Digital Microfluidics
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IV. Extracellular Vesicles and Complex Biological-Sample Analysis
Digital Microfluidics Integrates Raman Sensing for Unified Sample Processing and in situ Detection
The study integrates digital microfluidics with a transparent Raman-enhancing stacked sensor, completing droplet manipulation, sample pretreatment, target enrichment, and surface-enhanced Raman detection on the same chip while keeping sample and reagent consumption at the microliter scale. Using exosomes from conditioned culture medium and clinical serum as examples, the researchers further validated on-chip enrichment and in situ analysis.
Dong W, et al., Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2025, 271: 117036
Paper title:Digital Microfluidics with Integrated Raman Sensor for High-Sensitivity In-Situ Bioanalysis
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Digital Microfluidics Connects with Mass Spectrometry to Complete Extracellular-Vesicle Enrichment and Lipid Extraction in 15 Minutes
The study combines digital microfluidics with mass spectrometry and uses coordination between zirconia-coated magnetic beads and phosphate groups on extracellular-vesicle membranes to complete extracellular-vesicle capture, washing, and in situ lipid extraction on a chip.
The method enriches extracellular vesicles from microliter-scale samples in 15 minutes, achieving a recovery rate of 78%, close to the 84% achieved by ultracentrifugation, while reducing processing time from more than 2 hours to 15 minutes. The study further analyzes lipid differences between extracellular vesicles from resting M0 macrophages and anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages, providing a new workflow for immunometabolism and lipidomics studies using scarce samples.
Zhao M, et al., Analytical Chemistry, 2026, 98(10): 7590–7602
Paper title:Streamlined Digital Microfluidics-Mass Spectrometry Strategy for Extracellular Vesicle Enrichment and Lipid Profiling
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V. Clinical Diagnostics and Molecular Detection
Digital Optofluidics Integrates Amplification and Optical Readout for Label-Free Pathogen Genotyping
The study integrates digital microfluidics, asymmetric direct solid-phase recombinase polymerase amplification, and hyperspectral self-interference detection on one platform, connecting sample processing, nucleic-acid amplification, target capture, and result readout on-chip.
During amplification, the platform directly captures target DNA on a silicon-based detection surface and performs label-free readout through changes in the interference spectrum caused by the DNA monolayer. The system achieves a detection sensitivity of 10 CFU·mL⁻¹, distinguishes four Candida species, completes automated detection of Gram-negative bacteria within 50 minutes, and supports parallel analysis of four targets.
Zhou T, et al., ACS Sensors, 2024, 9(12): 6411–6420
Paper title:Self-Interference Digital Optofluidic Genotyping for Integrated and Automated Label-Free Pathogen Detection
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Electroosmotic Digital Optofluidics Enable Label-Free Protein Detection in 15 Minutes
The study builds an electroosmotic digital-optofluidics platform that combines programmable droplet manipulation, hyperspectral self-interference detection, and electroosmotic molecular cycling for protein-marker detection in microliter-scale blood samples.
A non-uniform electric field drives the analyte molecules to circulate actively within droplets, accelerating binding between antigens and immobilized probes. The reaction time is reduced to 15 minutes, with a limit of detection of 0.21 nM. In 17 clinical samples, the study detected hepatitis A and hepatitis E IgM, with results fully consistent with the clinical results.
Yang F, et al., Nano Letters, 2025, 25(13): 5325–5333
Paper title:Automated Electroosmotic Digital Optofluidics for Rapid and Label-Free Protein Detection
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Digital Microfluidics Works with Digital CRISPR for Ultrasensitive Single-Molecule Detection
The study proposes a “Dual-Digital” detection strategy that deeply integrates DropletBot® Digital Microfluidics with a CRISPR signal-amplification system to build a fully automated DDA (Dual-Digital immunoAssay) platform.
The platform uses digital microfluidics for magnetic-bead immunocapture, multistep washing, reagent incubation, and droplet manipulation. Combined with RPA-T7-CRISPR/Cas13a cascade signal amplification and digital readout through a microwell array, it automates the complete process from target-protein capture to single-molecule counting—“sample in, answer out”—within 1 hour.
The platform achieves a general limit of detection as low as 100 zM for key protein markers, more than 100-fold better than mainstream commercial ultrasensitive detection technologies. It can also directly quantify heart-failure-related markers NT-proBNP, IL-6, and TNF-α in complex serum samples, with limits of detection of 1 aM, 1.5 aM, and 2.5 aM, respectively.
Li Z, et al., Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025, 147(47): 43870–43883
Paper title:Unlocking Zeptomolar Single-Molecule Detection by Synergizing Digital Microfluidics and Digital CRISPR
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VI. Environmental and Biosafety Detection
Optoelectronic Tweezers Control “Nanograspers” for Rapid Capture and Detection of Nanoplastics in Biological Samples
The study uses optoelectronic tweezers to dynamically assemble gold nanoparticles into nanograspers controlled by a light field. According to the shape of the light pattern, the nanograspers aggregate, capture, and immobilize nanoparticles in designated regions, forming uniformly distributed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hotspots.
The platform completes analyte enrichment and detection in approximately 10 seconds, achieves a limit of detection of 4.43 × 10⁻⁸ M for rhodamine B, and rapidly identifies polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics. The study further validates direct capture and Raman detection of nanoplastics in serum samples.
Dong W, et al., ACS Nano, 2026, 20(11): 9358–9370
Paper title:Light-Programmable Nanograspers for Rapid Nanoplastics Detection in Biological Fluids
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From Technical Validation to Reusable Experimental Capability
Looking back at these studies, the experimental targets and application scenarios differ, but they reveal the same underlying path of technological evolution.
Optoelectronic tweezers are moving from single-target manipulation toward parallel manipulation of multiple targets, autonomous path planning, dynamic self-assembly, and three-dimensional micromachine control. Digital microfluidics is also evolving from simple droplet movement into an automated platform that integrates sample processing, cell sorting, molecular reactions, and signal readout.
More importantly, the introduction of AI-based visual recognition and path planning, spectroscopic detection, mass-spectrometric analysis, and molecular amplification means that microfluidic platforms are no longer limited to performing one experimental action. They are gradually taking responsibility for organizing and executing complete experimental workflows.
For research users, this means that workflows once dependent on multiple instruments, containers, and extensive manual transfers may be compressed into smaller sample volumes, shorter experimental times, and more standardized operating procedures.
For OptoSeeker Biotech, these papers are more than demonstrations of technical achievement. Together, they validate the scalability of optoelectronic tweezers and digital microfluidics in micro-/nanomanipulation, cell sorting, biochemical detection, and automated experimentation, while providing theoretical and methodological foundations for the continued iteration of OptoBot® and DropletBot® products.
For more developments in optoelectronic tweezers, digital microfluidics, and single-cell technologies, please continue to follow OptoSeeker Biotech.
