Kritzinger, AneForbes, AndrewForbes, Patricia B.C.2023-02-102023-02-102022-10Kritzinger, A., Forbes, A. & Forbes, P.B.C. 2022, 'Optical trapping and fluorescence control with vectorial structured light', Scientific Reports, vol. 12, art. 17690, pp. 1-12, doi : 10.1038/s41598-022-21224-1.2045-2322 (online)10.1038/s41598-022-21224-1https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89381Here we functionalized micro-scaled polymer beads with nano-scaled quantum dots and demonstrate optical trapping and tweezing, with in-situ fluorescence measurement, in an all-digital all-optical configuration. We outline the chemistry required to facilitate this, from deactivating the optical trapping environment to size, adhesion and agglomeration control. We introduce a novel holographic optical trapping set-up that leverages on vectorially structured light, allowing for the delivery of tuneable forms of light from purely scalar to purely vector, including propagation invariant flat-top beams for uniform illumination and tailored intensity gradient landscapes. Finally, we show how this has the potential to quench bleaching in a single wavelength trap by linear (spatial mode) rather than non-linear effects, advancing the nascent field of optics for chemistry.en© The Author(s) 2022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Optical trappingTweezingVectorially structured lightBleachingArticle