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A self-propelled biohybrid swimmer at low Reynolds number

Author

Listed:
  • Brian J. Williams

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Sandeep V. Anand

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

  • Jagannathan Rajagopalan

    (Arizona State University)

  • M. Taher A. Saif

    (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

Many microorganisms, including spermatozoa and forms of bacteria, oscillate or twist a hair-like flagella to swim. At this small scale, where locomotion is challenged by large viscous drag, organisms must generate time-irreversible deformations of their flagella to produce thrust. To date, there is no demonstration of a self propelled, synthetic flagellar swimmer operating at low Reynolds number. Here we report a microscale, biohybrid swimmer enabled by a unique fabrication process and a supporting slender-body hydrodynamics model. The swimmer consists of a polydimethylsiloxane filament with a short, rigid head and a long, slender tail on which cardiomyocytes are selectively cultured. The cardiomyocytes contract and deform the filament to propel the swimmer at 5–10 μm s−1, consistent with model predictions. We then demonstrate a two-tailed swimmer swimming at 81 μm s−1. This small-scale, elementary biohybrid swimmer can serve as a platform for more complex biological machines.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian J. Williams & Sandeep V. Anand & Jagannathan Rajagopalan & M. Taher A. Saif, 2014. "A self-propelled biohybrid swimmer at low Reynolds number," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4081
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4081
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    Cited by:

    1. Sajjad Rahmani Dabbagh & Misagh Rezapour Sarabi & Mehmet Tugrul Birtek & Siamak Seyfi & Metin Sitti & Savas Tasoglu, 2022. "3D-printed microrobots from design to translation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Cornel Dillinger & Nitesh Nama & Daniel Ahmed, 2021. "Ultrasound-activated ciliary bands for microrobotic systems inspired by starfish," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.

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