Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
School of Materials Science

Living organisms have developed diverse functions through evolution over a long period of time. Some functions are related to mobility, including muscle contraction, bacteria' s swimming and cell division. Nanometer proteins called motor proteins are integrated into motion assemblies with dimensions ranging from the micrometer-scale (bacteria) to the meter-scale (muscle). A motor protein is a molecular machine that converts chemical energy into dynamic force with great efficiency. This is an excellent property that conventional artificial motors do not have. In our laboratory, we are developing biohybrid micromachines using organic motors and micro-fabrication technology.

1. "A printable active network actuator built from an engineered biomolecular motor"
   Takahiro Nitta, Yingzhe Wang, Zhao Du, Keisuke Morishima & Yuichi Hiratsuka
   Nature Materials DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-021-00969-6 (2021)
2. "Micrometer-sized molecular robot changes its shape in response to signal molecules"
   Yusuke Sato, Yuichi Hiratsuka, Ibuki Kawamata, Satoshi Murata and Shin-ichiro M. Nomura
   Science Robotics vol. 2, Issue 4, eaal3735 (2017)
3. "Self-organized optical device driven by motor proteins"
   Susumu Aoyama, Masahiko Shimoike, and Yuichi Hiratsuka
   Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. vol. 110 no. 41, 16408-16413 (2013)
4. "Micro-rotary motor powered by bacteria"
   Yuichi Hiratsuaka, Makoto Miyata, Tetsuya Tada and Taro. Q. P. Uyeda
   Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. 103 13618 (2006)