Bacteria-inspired nanorobots with flagellar polymorphic transformations and bundling

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• Micro- and nanoscale swimmers often mimic bacterial flagella for propulsion using inorganic materials or photoactive polymers.
• Existing artificial nanohelices lack the ability to reconfigure geometry in response to multiple environmental stimuli, limiting motility in complex biological settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report magnetic actuation of self-assembled bacterial flagellar nanorobotic swimmers.
• To investigate the influence of flagellar form reconfiguration on propulsion.
• To demonstrate steering and flagellar bundling capabilities of these nanorobots.

Main Methods:

• Experimental and numerical characterization of nanorobotic swimmers with three distinct flagellar forms.
• Magnetic actuation for controlling nanorobot movement and geometry.
• Study of flagellar bundling in multi-flagellated nanoswimmers.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated magnetic actuation of self-assembled bacterial flagellar nanorobots.
• Observed changes in propulsion efficiency correlated with flagellar form reconfiguration.
• Successfully demonstrated steering capabilities and induced flagellar bundling.

Conclusions:

• Self-assembled bacterial flagellar nanorobots can be magnetically actuated and reconfigure their helical geometry.
• Dynamic shape changes enhance nanorobot motility, particularly in challenging biological environments.
• These findings pave the way for advanced wirelessly controlled nanorobots for in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications.