A holographic optical tweezers for manipulating a micro- or nano-size particle, the optical tweezers including a light source configured to emit first and second light beams; a light focusing apparatus configured to focus the first and second light beams to generate focused light beams, which create optical forces; and a trapping assembly configured to receive the first and second focused light beams and form a trap for holding the particle with the optical forces. The trapping assembly includes first and second micromirrors attached to a microscope coverslip.