SmartTrap: automated precision experiments with optical tweezers
Journal article, 2026
Optical tweezers are widely used in single-molecule biophysics, cell biomechanics and soft matter physics, but require a human operator, limiting throughput and repeatability. Here we present a smart optical tweezers platform, named SmartTrap, capable of performing complex experiments autonomously by integrating real-time three-dimensional particle tracking, custom electronics and a microfluidics system. Through a series of experiments, we demonstrate it can operate continuously, acquiring high-precision data over extended periods of time. By bridging the gap between manual experimentation and autonomous operation, SmartTrap establishes a robust and open-source framework for the next generation of optical tweezers research, capable of performing large-scale studies in single-molecule biophysics, cell mechanics and colloidal science with minimal experimental overhead and operator bias.
Author
Martin Selin
University of Gothenburg
Antonio Ciarlo
University of Gothenburg
Giuseppe Pesce
University of Gothenburg
Lars Bengtsson
University of Gothenburg
Joan Camunas-Soler
University of Gothenburg
Vinoth Edal Joseph Sundar Rajan
Molecular Bioscience
Fredrik Westerlund
Molecular Bioscience
Marcus Wilhelmsson
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Isabel Pastor
University of Barcelona
Felix Ritort
Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences of Barcelona
University of Barcelona
Carlos Bustamante
University of California
Giovanni Volpe
University of Gothenburg
Nature Methods
1548-7091 (ISSN) 1548-7105 (eISSN)
Vol. In PressSubject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Condensed Matter Physics
Biophysics
DOI
10.1038/s41592-026-03129-3
PubMed
42315729