Nano-aquarium Fabrication by Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing for Microscopic Observation of Aquatic Microorganisms

Abstract

We demonstrate the fabrication of three-dimensional (3-D) hollow microstructures embedded in photostructurable glass by a femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing. Fs laser direct writing followed by annealing and successive wet etching in dilute hydrofluoric (HF) acid solution resulted in the rapid manufacturing of microchips with 3-D hollow microstructures for the dynamic observation of living microorganisms in fresh water. The embedded microchannel structure enables us to analyze the continuous motion of flagellum movement of Euglena gracilis. Such microchips, referred to as nano-aquariums realize the efficient and highly functional observation of microorganisms.