Issue 6, 2013

On-chip microrobot for investigating the response of aquatic microorganisms to mechanical stimulation

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel, magnetically driven microrobot equipped with a frame structure to measure the effects of stimulating aquatic microorganisms. The design and fabrication of the force-sensing structure with a displacement magnification mechanism based on beam deformation are described. The microrobot is composed of a Si–Ni hybrid structure constructed using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technologies. The microrobots with 5 μm-wide force sensors are actuated in a microfluidic chip by permanent magnets so that they can locally stimulate the microorganisms with the desired force within the stable environment of the closed microchip. They afford centimetre-order mobility (untethered drive) and millinewton-order forces (high power) as well as force-sensing. Finally, we apply the developed microrobots for the quantitative evaluation of the stimuation of Pleurosira laevis (P. laevis) and determine the relationship between the applied force and the response of a single cell.

Graphical abstract: On-chip microrobot for investigating the response of aquatic microorganisms to mechanical stimulation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Oct 2012
Accepted
12 Dec 2012
First published
14 Dec 2012

Lab Chip, 2013,13, 1070-1078

On-chip microrobot for investigating the response of aquatic microorganisms to mechanical stimulation

T. Kawahara, M. Sugita, M. Hagiwara, F. Arai, H. Kawano, I. Shihira-Ishikawa and A. Miyawaki, Lab Chip, 2013, 13, 1070 DOI: 10.1039/C2LC41190C

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