A team of engineers under the leadership of a Professor from the University of Illinois Gutgsell has prepared small bio hybrid bots. These bots swim like sperms and are capable of passing through thick biological fluid on their own.
This is for the first time that such synthetic structures are made to reach the aquatic micro-organism world.
The development has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
According to Taher Saif, a Mechanical Science and Engineering Professor and the Lead Author, the world of micro organism could be reached only with the help of microscopes till now, but this newly developed system it might be possible.
The researchers began with making the body of the bio-bots with a flexible polymer. Heart cells were added later on at the point where head and tail meet. These tiny bio-bots are able to self synchronize and send a wave to the tail that push the boat forward.
"It's the minimal amount of engineering - just a head and a wire. Then the cells come in, interact with the structure, and make it functional. The long-term vision is simple," said Prof. Saif.
He further added that for these bots to move together, it is important that the cells beat together only then the tail will move.
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