Creation of microfluidic and transportation devices using earthworm muscle

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K13919
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Intelligent mechanics/Mechanical systems
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka Yo 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命機能科学研究センター, ユニットリーダー (40532271)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: マイクロ・ナノデバイス / マイクロマシン / 流体工学 / 生物機能利用 / 筋肉 / ミミズ / ポンプ / バルブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Miniaturization of pumps and valves are required in many fields, but there has been a limit due to the electric power source and wire in case of using conventional machine engineering. Here, we use muscle tissue that has no such issues, and developed an earthworm muscle based small pump. By using microfabrication technique, a microchannels and chamber was fabricated. The earthworm muscle was fixed on it. Fluid pumping was confirmed when electric pulse stimulation was added. In a similar structure with a system completely clogging the channel by a membrane due to the muscle contraction, a valve was created. Earthworm based robots were also created.

Free Research Field

ナノ・マイクロ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今回試作したデバイスは、動作のためのエネルギー源はアデノシン三リン酸（ATP）である。神経組織なども含めて、人工的にミミズと同様の構造を作ることができれば、電気なしでも使える可能性があることから、本成果、超微小デバイスを開発していく上でのモデルになると考えられる。今後、より人工的なアクチュエータとして工学ないし医療など様々な用途に使えるものに発展させられることが期待される。