Harnessing the Propulsive Force of Microalgae with Microtrap to Drive Micromachines

Abstract

Microorganisms possess remarkable locomotion abilities, making them potential candidates for micromachine propulsion. Here, the use of Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii (CR) is explored, a motile green alga, as a micromotor by harnessing its propulsive force with microtraps. The objectives include developing the microtrap structure, evaluating trapping efficiency, and investigating the movement dynamics of biohybrid micromachines driven by CR. Experimental analysis demonstrates that trap design significantly influences trapping efficiency, with a specific trap configuration (multi-ring structure with diameters of 7 µm – 10 µm – 13 µm) showing the highest effectiveness. The micromachine empowered with two CRs facing the same direction exhibits complex, random-like motion with yaw, pitch, and roll movements, while the micromachine with four CRs in a circular position each facing the tangential direction of the circle demonstrates controlled rotational motion. These findings highlight the degree of freedom and movement potential of biohybrid micromachines.