A self-swimming microbial-robot using microfabricated biopolymer

Author

Higashi, K. ; Kano, Takaaki ; Miki, Nobuhiko

Author_Institution

Keio Univ., Yokohama, Japan

fYear

2013

fDate

20-24 Jan. 2013

Firstpage

13

Lastpage

16

Abstract

This paper demonstrates a microbial-robot that migrates in low Reynolds number fluidic environments powered by motile flagellated bacteria. To immobilize the flagellated bacteria strongly, we utilized bacterial cellulose (BC), which was produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. We evaluated the adhesion between the BC and the flagellated bacteria, Aliivibrio fischeri using a microfluidic shear device and confirmed that the superiority of BC over conventional MEMS materials. Conical-shaped BC was produced by Gluconacetobacter xylinus in conical microholes with a help of oxygen concentration gradient. A. fischeri were successfully immobilized onto the BC structure to form a microbial-robot, which could swim in culture media at an average speed of 4.8 μm/s.

Keywords

cellular biophysics; microorganisms; mobile robots; polymers; Aliivibrio fischeri immobilization; Gluconacetobacter xylinus; adhesion evaluation; average speed; bacterial cellulose; conical microholes; conical-shaped BC; culture media; low-Reynolds number fluidic environments; microfabricated biopolymer; microfluidic shear device; motile flagellated bacteria; oxygen concentration gradient; self-swimming microbial-robot; velocity 4.8 mum/s; Films; Media; Microfluidics; Microorganisms; Robots; Suspensions;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), 2013 IEEE 26th International Conference on

Conference_Location

Taipei

ISSN

1084-6999

Print_ISBN

978-1-4673-5654-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MEMSYS.2013.6474164

Filename

6474164