Room Temperature Operable Autonomously Moving Bio-Microrobot Powered by Insect Dorsal Vessel Tissue

Yoshitake Akiyama,Kikuo Iwabuchi,Keisuke Morishima,Takayuki Hoshino,Elena A Rozhkova

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038274

Yoshitake Akiyama, Kikuo Iwabuchi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0038274

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Abstract

Living muscle tissues and cells have been attracting attention as potential actuator candidates. In particular, insect dorsal vessel tissue (DVT) seems to be well suited for a bio-actuator since it is capable of contracting autonomously and the tissue itself and its cells are more environmentally robust under culturing conditions compared with mammalian tissues and cells. Here we demonstrate an autonomously moving polypod microrobot (PMR) powered by DVT excised from an inchworm. We fabricated a prototype of the PMR by assembling a whole DVT onto an inverted two-row micropillar array. The prototype moved autonomously at a velocity of 3.5×10−2 µm/s, and the contracting force of the whole DVT was calculated as 20 µN. Based on the results obtained by the prototype, we then designed and fabricated an actual PMR. We were able to increase the velocity significantly for the actual PMR which could move autonomously at a velocity of 3.5 µm/s. These results indicate that insect DVT has sufficient potential as the driving force for a bio-microrobot that can be utilized in microspaces.

Highlights

Muscle tissue types have developed through the course of evolution, and they are seen today as prototypical soft actuators
Of dorsal vessel tissue (DVT) onto the microstructure While the microstructure remained adhered to the bottom of the petri dish, several micropillars of the prototype polypod microrobot (PMR) had been deformed by spontaneous contractions of the DVT for several days after assembling
The prototype used for the experiments had been cultured for 10 or more days because we had previously found that the micropillars were actuated by DVT more vigorously when culturing periods continued for 10 to 50 days rather than immediately after assembling [20]

Summary

Introduction

Muscle tissue types have developed through the course of evolution, and they are seen today as prototypical soft actuators. The contractile force of the whole DVT was estimated using deformation of the microstructure of the prototype. Based on the results obtained from the prototype, we fabricated an actual PMR, calculated its velocity, and compared its movement with that of the prototype.

Results

Conclusion