Opt. Rev., Vol. 22 (2015), pp. 137-142.

• “Plasmonic optical trapping of soft nanomaterials such as polymer chains and DNA: micro-patterning formation”
• Tatsuya Shoji and Yasuyuki Tsuboi
• Opt. Rev., Vol. 22 (2015), pp. 137-142.
• DOI: 10.1007/s10043-015-0030-8

Localized surface plasmons exert a strong radiation force on nanoparticles in the vicinity of noble metal nanostructures, resulting in optical trapping. Such plasmon-based optical trapping is one of the hot topics in the field of nanophotonics and can be applied to molecular manipulation techniques. In this review paper, we describe the plasmon-based optical trapping of polymer chains and DNA. In addition, we describe the future outlook for this trapping method.