Optical tweezers have become the method of choice in single-molecule manipulation
studies. In this Primer, we first review the physical principles of optical tweezers and the …

After conquering the atomic structure about a century ago, chemists have been largely
interested in understanding the concept of chemical bond and the formation of a molecule …

Stochastic thermodynamics as reviewed here systematically provides a framework for
extending the notions of classical thermodynamics such as work, heat and entropy …

Manipulation of individual molecules with optical tweezers provides a powerful means of
interrogating the structure and folding of proteins. Mechanical force is not only a relevant …

The reason we never observe violations of the second law of thermodynamics is a matter of
statistics: When very many degrees of freedom are involved, the odds are overwhelmingly …

Optical tweezers have become one of the primary weapons in the arsenal of biophysicists,
and have revolutionized the new field of single-molecule biophysics. Today's techniques …

Proteins are synthesized by the ribosome and generally must fold to become functionally
active. Although it is commonly assumed that the ribosome affects the folding process, this …

In addition to biochemical signals and genetic considerations, mechanical forces are rapidly
emerging as a master regulator of human physiology. However, the molecular mechanisms …

Direct observation of the detailed conformational fluctuations of a single protein molecule en
route to its folded state has so far been realized only in silico. We have used single-molecule …

Nanomedicine is a discipline that applies nanoscience and nanotechnology principles to the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. Self-assembly of molecular …