Efficient designs for powering microscale devices with nanoscale biomolecular motors.
Current MEMS and microfluidic designs require external power sources and actuators, which principally limit such technology. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a number of microfluidic systems into which we can seamlessly integrate a biomolecular motor, kinesin, that transports microtubules by extracting chemical energy from its aqueous working environment. Here we establish that our microfabricated structures, the self-assembly of the bio-derived transducer, and guided, unidirectional transport of microtubules are ideally suited to create engineered arrays for efficiently powering nano- and microscale devices.
Lin
Chih-Ting
CT
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 48109, USA.
Kao
Ming-Tse
MT
Kurabayashi
Katsuo
K
Meyhöfer
Edgar
E
D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000379:methods; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D009038:Motion; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
D001704:Biopolymers; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D016547:Kinesins