Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
Published on: January 18, 2017
Swimming dynamics of bidirectional artificial flagella
S Namdeo1, S N Khaderi, P R Onck
1Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
We study magnetic artificial flagella whose swimming speed and direction can be controlled using light and magnetic field as external triggers. The dependence of the swimming velocity on the system parameters (e.g., length, stiffness, fluid viscosity, and magnetic field) is explored using a computational framework in which the magnetostatic, fluid dynamic, and solid mechanics equations are solved simultaneously. A dimensionless analysis is carried out to obtain an optimal combination of system parameters for which the swimming velocity is maximal. The swimming direction reversal is addressed by incorporating photoresponsive materials, which in the photoactuated state can mimic natural mastigonemes.
Related Concept Videos
Flagella and Motility in Bacteria
Mechanism of Ciliary Motion
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Microtubules in Cell Motility
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

