微生物の運動理解に向けた鞭毛型マイクロロボット

抄録

We designed and actuated a biomimetic micro-gel robot to understand a motion of microorganisms. We fabricated a micro-gel robot with two flagella to reproduce a motion of Chlamydomonas, which is known as model microorganisms. The micro-gel robot is made of temperature-responsive hydrogel (PNIPAAm) mixed with a light absorbing material and can be driven by light irradiation. We decided the design value of robot considering the geometric features of Chlamydomonas and made a difference in concentrations of a light absorber at the root of flagella to realize a breaststroke motion of Chlamydomonas. We successfully actuated a micro-gel robot and compared its motion of flagella to that of Chlamydomonas. Moreover, we succeeded in observation and comparison of the flow around a micro-gel robot and Chlamydomonas.