Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria01:18

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

4.1K
Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
4.1K
Other Unique Bacteria01:18

Other Unique Bacteria

505
Magnetic bacteria exhibit a directed movement called magnetotaxis, driven by structures called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes consist of chains of magnetic particles made of either magnetite (Fe₃O₄) or greigite (Fe₃S₄) and are organized in a linear conformation by a protein scaffold within invaginations of the cell membrane. The bacteria align along the north–south magnetic field lines, much like a compass needle. They are typically microaerophilic or anaerobic...
505

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Dynamic velocity response of E. coli powered by proteorhodopsin.

Biophysical reports·2026
Same author

An optically driven microstructure for torque measurement in rotary molecular motors.

Microsystems & nanoengineering·2026
Same author

Light-momentum-driven soft optical waveguide micro-actuators.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Wall Torque Controls Propulsion of Curved Microstructures in Bacterial Baths.

Physical review letters·2025
Same author

Active billiards: Engineering boundaries for the spatial control of confined active particles.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025
Same author

The power of microbial life for the transformation towards a sustainable planet: key messages from the 2024 IUMS Congress in Florence, the city of the Renaissance.

microLife·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices
05:46

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices

Published on: January 19, 2024

3.4K

Light controlled 3D micromotors powered by bacteria.

Gaszton Vizsnyiczai1, Giacomo Frangipane1, Claudio Maggi2

  • 1Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Roma 'Sapienza', Roma I-00185, Italy.

Nature Communications
|June 29, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed tunable bio-hybrid micromotors using self-assembling synthetic structures and genetically engineered bacteria. These novel micromotors offer enhanced control and reliability for advanced applications.

More Related Videos

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior
10:07

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Published on: January 31, 2020

6.7K
Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging
08:40

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging

Published on: March 13, 2019

12.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices
05:46

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices

Published on: January 19, 2024

3.4K
Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior
10:07

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Published on: January 31, 2020

6.7K
Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging
08:40

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging

Published on: March 13, 2019

12.1K

Area of Science:

  • Biomimetic engineering
  • Synthetic biology
  • Micro-robotics

Background:

  • Self-propelled bacteria offer potential as biological propellers in synthetic micromachines.
  • Existing designs face challenges in reproducibility, noise, and tunability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create fast, reliable, and tunable bio-hybrid micromotors.
  • To overcome limitations of previous bacterial micromachine designs.

Main Methods:

  • Self-assembly of synthetic structures with genetically engineered bacteria.
  • Utilizing 3D interconnected structures with rotating units and microchambers for bacterial capture.
  • Employing bacteria with light-driven proton pumps for optical speed control.
  • Using a spatial light modulator for dynamic control of rotational speeds.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated successful self-assembly of functional bio-hybrid micromotors.
  • Achieved optically controlled bacterial swimming speeds and motor rotational speeds.
  • Enabled dynamic control of individual and collective micromotor rotation using light and feedback loops.

Conclusions:

  • The developed bio-hybrid micromotors represent a significant advancement in controllable micro-robotics.
  • This approach offers a reliable and tunable platform for bio-hybrid systems.
  • Potential applications in targeted delivery, sensing, and micro-manipulation.