Holographic Optical Tweezers: Techniques and Biomedical Applications
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This review is about the HOT technique. Although, it is a review, it was not clear to me if the authors highlighted their own expertise in this area. If this is the case, it may be an opportunity in this review to put some emphasis in the content that the authors do have some authority in this area as well.
It will be good for the authors highlight the advantages of HOT technique over other current techniques that may not be optical means and compare/contrast.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
In this manuscript, the development and technology of holographic optical tweezers (HOT) have been reviewed. The application of HOT in biological research has been described. In general, the manuscript has a certain reference significance, which can make beginners quickly understand the concept and application of the HOT. However, the quality of the current manuscript should be furtherly improved for publication.
1. The investigation of the calculation algorithms for the HOT is insufficient. Only the Fresnel diffraction, 2D-GSA and 3D-GSA were introduced in the manuscript. As far as I know, many algorithms including random mask encoding method, superposition of gratings and lenses method, random superposition method, Gerchberg-Saxton method, weighted Gerchberg-Saxton method, generalized adaptive additive method and Wirtinger method can be employed in the calculation of the HOT. The authors are suggested to conduct a more detailed investigation.
2. In my opinion, the most important figure of the manuscript should be Figure 5. It summarized the important applications of HOT in the biological field. However, the readability of current Figure 5 should be improved: (1) Direction of many words in this figure was reversed. It is difficult for readers to recognize these words. (2) The figure was drawn using a concentric-circle-structure. The relationship between different concentric circles is not intuitive. The authors are suggested to redraw this figure.
3. The manuscript does not use figures or tables to summarize the characteristics, advantages and key performance parameters of HOT in the biological application. Therefore, it is difficult for readers to quickly understand the authors’ intention. The authors are suggested to summarize their intention in a more intuitive way, for example, using more figures and tables.
4. Some issues in writing:
(1) Variables in the formula should be italicized. In the manuscript, some variables are not italicized (e.g. Equation 1).
(2) The meaning of some subpicture has not been explained. For example, what are meanings of Figure 7(a), (b), (c) and (d), respectively?
Author Response
Please see the attachments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
In the manuscript, the authors reviewed the development and technology of holographic optical tweezers (HOT) and its applications in biomedical science in details. The principles of a typical HOT system, various computer generated hologram simulation methods, and optical orientation control were described. The applications of HOT to assembly and bio-structure fabrication, parallel measurement of the bio-samples in fluid, and the combination applications of HOT and digital holography were also described. In summary, this is a well-written paper and readers should be very interested. I recommend that this manuscript should be published as soon as possible with a minor revision. The full name of the red blood cell (RBC) should be added.
Author Response
Please see the attachments.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
