EAPSI: Investigation of bacteria-inspired robotic swimmers

目前，微型机器人在许多方面的应用引起了人们的极大兴趣，例如药物输送。从文献中可以清楚地看出，微型机器人尚未被开发用于临床的主要原因是缺乏足够的能量和推进系统，以及缺乏精确操纵这些设备所需的控制系统。虽然材料的合成和加工一直在快速发展，但没有一种人造材料表现出许多生物系统固有的各种健壮性和功能。这种活性物质的可能来源存在于许多微生物中，即细菌鞭毛。鞭毛的一个潜在应用是将这些生物材料用作机器人微泳者的机械马达。这项研究旨在制造和控制细菌启发的机器人微泳者。韩国科学技术研究所(KIST)仿生学中心的金振锡博士目前正在研究使用这种微型机器人进行微创手术和靶向药物输送。KIST的研究人员在研究微泳行为以及通过各种刺激(如趋磁)控制微泳者的能力方面拥有专业知识。鞭毛是用于各种微生物机器人系统的理想系统，因为它们可以将旋转运动转换为平移运动。此外，作为机械装置，鞭毛具有非凡的特性，使其能够充当机械换能器。此外，数十亿的鞭毛很容易通过廉价的细胞培养技术获得。KIST还提供专业知识和设备，以及记录、跟踪和分析细菌行为的设备。利用KIST的微型物体高分辨率荧光成像设备，将开发鞭毛化人工细菌，并研究它们在低雷秒数下游泳的能力。此外，还将研究这些机器人游泳者在生物现实流体中可控导航的能力。该NSF EAPSI奖是与韩国国家研究基金会合作资助的。

Currently there is a great deal of interest in microscale robotics for many applications, such as drug delivery. From literature, it is clear that the main reasons why microrobototics has not yet been developed for clinical use is the lack of sufficient energy and propulsion systems, as well as a lack of control systems needed for precise manipulation of these devices. Although material synthesis and processing have been rapidly advancing, no man-made material exhibits the diverse array of robustness and function inherent in many biological systems. A possible resource for such active materials exists within many microorganisms, namely bacterial flagella. One potential application of flagella is the use of these biomaterials as mechanical motors in robotic microswimmers. This research aims to fabricate and control bacterial-inspired robotic microswimmers. Dr.Jinseok Kim, at the Center of Bionics at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) is currently investigating the use of such microrobots for minimally invasive surgery and targeted drug delivery. The researchers at KIST have expertise in studying microswimming behavior as well as capability to control microswimmers though various stimulations such as magnetotaxis. Flagella are an ideal system to use for a variety of microbiorobotic systems because they can convert rotational motion into translation motion. Also, as mechanical devices, flagella have extraordinary properties, allowing them to act as mechanical transducers. Furthermore, billions of flagella are readily available through inexpensive cell culturing techniques. Expertise and equipment, along with equipment to record, track, and analyze bacterial behavior is also present at KIST. Using KIST's equipment for high resolution fluorescence imaging of micro size objects, flagellated artificial bacteria will be developed and investigated for their ability to swim at low Reyonds number. In addition, the ability of these robotic swimmers to navigate controllably in biologically realistic fluids will also be investigated. This NSF EAPSI award is funded in collaboration with the National Research Foundation of Korea.