Enhanced directionality of bio-hybrid mobile microrobots using non-spherical body geometries

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2012:2012:6580-2. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2012.6347502.

Abstract

Mobile microrobots are envisioned to be employed for several applications including drug delivery, diagnostic imaging and environmental monitoring. In the bio-hybrid microrobot that is presented here, microparticles are used as the body of the microrobot and bacterial cells are utilized to realize on-board actuation. In this work, the importance of body shape on the dynamics of bacteria-propelled swimming microrobots (BacteriaBots) is investigated. We have shown that, with the use of non-spherical microparticles, average directionality of the BacteriaBots is enhanced compared with the spherical BacteriaBots.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Diffusion
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Equipment Design / methods*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods
  • Miniaturization
  • Movement
  • Particle Size
  • Polylysine / chemistry
  • Robotics / instrumentation*
  • Robotics / methods*

Substances

  • Polylysine