Magnetic Propulsion of Microswimmers with DNA-Based Flagellar Bundles.

ABSTRACT: We show that DNA-based self-assembly can serve as a general and flexible tool to construct artificial flagella of several micrometers in length and only tens of nanometers in diameter. By attaching the DNA flagella to biocompatible magnetic microparticles, we provide a proof of concept demonstration of hybrid structures that, when rotated in an external magnetic field, propel by means of a flagellar bundle, similar to self-propelling peritrichous bacteria. Our theoretical analysis predicts that flagellar bundles that possess a length-dependent bending stiffness should exhibit a superior swimming speed compared to swimmers with a single appendage. The DNA self-assembly method permits the realization of these improved flagellar bundles in good agreement with our quantitative model. DNA flage

SUBMITTER: Maier AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4819949 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature