EAPSI: Investigation of bacteria-inspired robotic swimmers

目前，人们对微型机器人的许多应用产生了极大的兴趣，比如药物输送。从文献来看，很明显，微型机器人尚未开发用于临床的主要原因是缺乏足够的能量和推进系统，以及缺乏精确操作这些设备所需的控制系统。虽然材料的合成和加工已经迅速发展，但没有人造材料表现出许多生物系统固有的各种鲁棒性和功能。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微型游泳机器人的机械马达。本研究旨在制造和控制细菌启发的微型游泳机器人。韩国科学技术研究院（KIST）仿生学中心的金珍锡博士目前正在研究将这种微型机器人用于微创手术和靶向药物输送。KIST的研究人员在研究微游泳行为和通过各种刺激（如趋磁性）控制微游泳者的能力方面具有专长。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化为平移运动。此外，作为机械装置，鞭毛具有非凡的特性，使它们能够充当机械传感器。此外，通过廉价的细胞培养技术，数十亿鞭毛唾手可得。专业知识和设备，以及记录、跟踪和分析细菌行为的设备也存在于KIST。利用KIST的设备对微小物体进行高分辨率荧光成像，鞭毛人工细菌将被开发并研究其在低雷恩斯数下游泳的能力。此外，这些机器人游泳者在生物逼真的流体中控制导航的能力也将被研究。美国国家科学基金会EAPSI奖与韩国国家研究基金会合作资助。

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.