  The possible disruption of a microtubule during mitosis can control the
duplication of a cancer cell. Cancer detection and treatment may be possible
based on the detection and control of microtubule mechanical oscillations in
cells through external fields (e.g. electromagnetic or ultrasound). However,
little is known about the dynamic (high-frequency) mechanical properties of
microtubules. Here we propose to control the vibrations of a doubly clamped
microtubule by tip electrodes and to detect its motion via the optomechanical
coupling between the vibrational modes of the microtubule and an optical
cavity. In the presence of a red-detuned strong pump laser, this coupling leads
to optomechanical induced transparency of an optical probe field, which can be
detected with state-of the art technology. The center frequency and linewidth
of the transparency peak give the resonance frequency and damping rate of the
microtubule respectively, while the height of the peak reveals information
about the microtubule-cavity field coupling. Our method should yield new
knowledge about the physical properties of microtubules, which will enhance our
capability to design physical cancer treatment protocols as alternatives to
chemotherapeutic drugs.
