Light controlled integratable single cell micro rotary vane pump

Abstract

This paper reports a light controllable single cell driven micro rotary vane pump for transport fluid in small space based on a new type of bio-actuator: Euglena. Different from other types of bio-actuators, Euglena has features of both animals and plants, which will allow, for the first time, bio-actuator functioned in fresh and salt water and take nourishment through photosynthesis. To demonstrate the potential of Euglena actuator, we fabricated a simple chamber as a pump structure, and let the Euglena swim through the chamber. Then, by irradiating the Euglena with light in a range from 400 to 420 nm, the Euglena started a fixed location-rotation, which generated a flow. The particles flow by the generated flow was confirmed.