Collaborative Research: Biologically Inspired Robotic Microswimmers

CBET-0828239 Breuer细菌鞭毛推进代表了自然界中一种非凡的系统，由于其独特的分子聚合物结构适应不同的形状，取决于当地的化学和流动条件，可以在微米尺度上产生运动。它们的运动引起局部流动，可用于推动细胞以及更大的结构通过流体环境。这个合作研究小组计划了解，建模和利用鞭毛推进的物理学用于工程微流体系统。该计划的目的是了解管理鞭毛推进设备（包括单个游泳者和集体动力设备）的组装和操作的基本科学原理，以及展示利用聚合蛋白质纳米结构所需的使能技术，如微结构上的细菌鞭毛丝用于微米级工程推进系统。德雷克塞尔大学和布朗大学之间的这一合作提案是第一个专注于与细菌鞭毛丝的多态性转化相关的特定特征，以证明以受控和定向方式通过微流体景观移动较大工程元件的能力。这项提议的基本科学价值包括在工程系统中使用纳米级鞭毛丝进行微米级推进。基本的问题是要回答的机制，导致自我协调的鞭毛丝在各种外部刺激的反应。 鞭毛丝运输微结构在各种微流体环境中可能的协调将被检查，从而使一个全新的游泳机器人系统与应用程序的生物工程执行器，药物输送系统，和机器的微米级的运输和组装。在微米和纳米尺度上控制细菌鞭毛丝的示范以及将信息技术与生物和纳米技术相结合的能力将产生重大影响。该计划将有一个密集的推广组成部分，包括积极招聘和培训妇女和代表性不足的少数民族工程师，利用和扩大现有的和行之有效的方案已经到位，在布朗和德雷克塞尔和推广到内城高中学生和教师人口在普罗维登斯和费城通过布朗（布朗）和INSPIRE（德雷克塞尔）计划。这使得在大学校园的课堂培训和教师驻校计划。

CBET-0828239BreuerBacterial flagellar propulsion represents an extraordinary system in nature for generating motion at the micrometer scale due to their unique molecular polymeric structure adapting to different shapes, depending on the local chemical and flow conditions. Their motion induces a local flow that can be used to propel cells, as well as much larger structures through a fluid environment. This collaborative research team plans to understand, to model and to exploit the physics of flagellar propulsion for use in engineered microfluidic systems. The objective of the program is to understand the fundamental scientific principles that govern the assembly and operation of flagellar-propelled devices (both single swimmers and collectively-powered devices), as well as to demonstrate the enabling technologies necessary to harness polymeric protein nanostructures such as bacterial flagellar filaments on microstructures for use in micron-scale engineered propulsion systems. This collaborative proposal between Drexel University and Brown University is the first to focus on the specific characteristics associated with the polymorphic transformation of bacterial flagellar filaments to demonstrate the ability to move larger engineered elements through a microfluidic landscape in a controlled and directed manner. Fundamental scientific merits addressed by this proposal include using nanoscale flagellar filaments in engineered systems for micron-scale propulsion. Basic questions are to be answered regarding the mechanisms leading to self-coordination of flagellar filaments in responses to a variety of external stimuli. Possible coordination of flagellar filaments to transport microstructures in various microfluidic environments will be examined, thus enabling an entirely new class of swimming robotic systems with applications to bio-engineered actuators, drug delivery systems, and machines for micron-scale transport and assembly. Demonstration of the control of bacterial flagellar filaments at micro- and nanoscales and the ability to integration information technology with bio and nanotechnology will have great impact. The program will have an intensive outreach component, including active recruitment and training of women and underrepresented minorities engineers leveraging and expanding existing and proven programs already in place at Brown and Drexel and outreach to inner-city high school student and teacher populations in both Providence and Philadelphia through the BROWNOUT (Brown) and INSPIRE (Drexel) programs. These enable in-classroom training and teacher-in-residence programs at the university campuses.