title: Efficient designs for powering microscale devices with nanoscale biomolecular motors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Chih-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ming-Tse
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Katsuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurabayashi
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meyhöfer
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D016547:Kinesins