(YIP) SELF-ASSEMBLED ARCHAELLA SWIMMERS FOR NANOSCALE ACTUATION AND SENSING
Abstract
Self-assembled small scale structures that have been intricately designed by nature present a wide range of functionality and autonomic behavior for sensing and actuation. This is especially true for microorganisms, which at the micro and nanoscales produce complex structured filaments that have built-in mechanisms to respond to environmental stimuli. An example of these filaments is ubiquitous throughout the domain archaea, namely archaeal flagella. These natural nanostructured materials have a number of unique and manipulatable physiochemical properties which makes them ideal for use as chemically and genetically engineered functional nanobiomaterials. Thus, the main objective of this proposed research is to develop the fundamental foundations for use of archaeal flagella (archaella) from archaea extremophiles in wireless biohybrid devices for nanoscale actuation and sensing. Specifically, these filaments will be harnessed from various flagellated extremophiles archaea and subsequently functionalized with magnetic nanoparticles. The artificial archaeal swimmers will be actuated using external magnetic fields and though use of exogenous biochemical energy sources. Inputted energy will be used to effectively rotate the archaeal flagella and induce corkscrew motion resulting in low-Reynold’s number thrust. The ability to template the surfaces of these structures with inorganic materials using sol-gel chemistry will also be explored. Using high resolution imaging, the stimuli-responsive dynamics of these biomimetic devices will be evaluated in various fluidic environments. The knowledge gained from this investigation will proved a basic framework necessary to utilize the vast array of other filaments produced by archaea in small scale self-assembled devices. The design principles developed will aid in the advancement of scalable archaella derived materials for defense applicable sensors and actuators.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210247
Entities
People
- Jamel Ali
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Florida A&M University
- United States Air Force