藻类细胞机器人的运动控制方法研究

Algae cells can be seen as micro robots from the view of engineering, which have perception and driving ability, and can obtain energy from the surrounding environment and efficiently convert chemical energy into mechanical energy of flagella to promote the cell swimming freely in the water. If we can achieve an effective control for these microorganisms’ movement, we can take their natural advantages in perception, drive, energy aspects of Algae cells, which can be used in biochips, biological drives, micro and nano devices, and will play an important role in health care, environmental monitoring and micro-nano manufacturing. In this project, algae cells moving actively in water are controlled as micro robots. The light driving control method and patterning of algae cells are studied based on the phototaxis of algal cells. Studies are carried to reveal the movement mechanism of the cells under the optical control. Algal cell robots arrays rotation with directional and controlled movement along the planned route will be achieved. We will explore the biological drive method for driving algal cells robots to rotate gear and to do work to the outside. This project aims at stride over the gap between microscopic world and macroscopic world, which can bring the microscopic motion of algae cells into macroscopic motion or energy that could be used outside. This project is expected to bring significant breakthrough in the fields of biological drives and new bio-energy.

从工程学的角度来看藻类细胞如同一个个微型机器人，藻类细胞具有感知和驱动能力，能够从周围环境中获取能量，并高效地将化学能转化为鞭毛的机械能，推动细胞在水中自由游动。如果能够实现对这类微生物运动的有效控制，就可结合藻类细胞感知、驱动、能量方面的天然优势，将这种微生物用于生物芯片、生物驱动、微纳器件等多个方面，在医疗保健、环境监测以及微纳制造等领域发挥重要作用。本项目以水中灵活运动的藻类细胞为被操控的微型机器人，结合藻类细胞的趋光性，研究藻类细胞机器人的光驱动操控方法及图形化，揭示细胞在光学调控下的运动机理，实现藻类细胞机器人的阵列化定向旋转及沿规划路径的可控运动，并探索利用藻类细胞机器人驱动齿轮及向外界做功的新型生物驱动方法。本项目的开展面向如何跨越微观世界与宏观世界的鸿沟，将藻类细胞的微观运动转化为可被外界使用的宏观运动或能源，有望在生物驱动和新型生物能源方面带来重要突破。

藻类细胞大小只有几个至几十微米，但它们却具备复杂生物体的感知和驱动功能。它们具有眼点可以感知光线，并依靠鞭毛在水中游向适于自身生长的最佳光环境。如果能够实现对这类微生物运动的有效控制，就可结合藻类细胞感知、驱动、能量方面的天然优势，将这种微生物用于生物驱动、新型生物能源等多个领域。本项目以藻细胞为微型机器人，依据藻类细胞的趋光特性，研究了藻类细胞机器人的光驱动操控方法及图形化，揭示了藻类细胞机器人在光学调控下的运动机理，实现了藻类细胞机器人的阵列化旋转及沿规划路径的可控运动，并探索了利用藻类细胞机器人驱动直径500微米齿轮及向外界做功的新型生物驱动方法，为藻类细胞生物驱动和新型生物能源提供了新的思路。.项目执行期间发表论文15篇，其中SCI期刊论文10篇（中科院分区一区论文3篇），会议论文4篇，申请专利4项，超额完成了项目的预期结果。藻类细胞机器人相关论文在国际知名期刊Lab on a Chip （中科院一区Top期刊）上以封面文章形式发表，该结果也获得辽宁省自然科学学术成果二等奖，并作为辽宁省科研亮点在2017年央视十九大《还看今朝》节目中播出。