Collaborative Research: Biologically Inspired Robotic Microswimmers

CBET-0828239细菌鞭毛推进系统由于其独特的分子聚合物结构，可根据当地的化学和流动条件适应不同的形状，因此在自然界中代表着一种非凡的系统，可在微米尺度上产生运动。它们的运动引起局部流动，可以用来推动细胞，以及在流体环境中穿过更大的结构。这个合作研究团队计划了解鞭毛推进的物理学，并对其进行建模和开发，以用于工程微流体系统。该计划的目标是了解支配鞭毛推进装置(包括单个游泳者和集体动力装置)组装和操作的基本科学原理，并展示将细菌鞭毛细丝等聚合蛋白质纳米结构用于微米级工程推进系统所需的使能技术。德雷克塞尔大学和布朗大学的这项合作提案是第一次专注于与细菌鞭毛细丝的多态转化相关的特定特征，以展示以受控和定向的方式在微流体景观中移动更大的工程元件的能力。这项提议涉及的基本科学价值包括在微米级推进的工程系统中使用纳米级鞭毛细丝。关于鞭毛细丝在对各种外部刺激的反应中导致自我协调的机制，基本问题有待回答。将研究鞭毛细丝在各种微流体环境中传输微结构的可能协调，从而使一种全新的游泳机器人系统能够应用于生物工程执行器、药物输送系统以及用于微米级运输和组装的机器。展示细菌鞭毛细丝在微米和纳米尺度上的控制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外展部分，包括积极招聘和培训女性和代表性不足的少数族裔工程师，利用和扩大布朗和德雷克塞尔已经实施的现有和成熟的计划，并通过布朗(Brown)和INSPIRE(德雷克塞尔)计划向普罗维登斯和费城的市中心高中学生和教师人口进行外展。这使得在大学校园进行课堂培训和教师驻校计划成为可能。

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.