Plants and animals have the natural ability to exhibit force through controlled pressurization of cellular compartments. The mechanism through which force is generated is powered by biological fuels. The process involves moving ions against an established concentration gradient expending free energy from bio-fuels like Adenosine-tri-phosphate (ATP), kinesin etc., Materials exhibiting deformation using biological processes are called Nastic materials. The functional component in mass transfer across the cell boundary is the ion transporter embedded in cell membranes. The ion transporters which are complex protein molecules, move ions and water molecules for an applied chemical or electrical stimulus. The bio-inspired microhydraulic actuator uses the same functional component in plant cells reconstituted on a planar bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) formed from purified lipids. The protein transporters pump ions and fluid into an enclosed cavity to cause deformation. The controlled fluid transport through AtSUT4(proton-sucrose co-transporter extracted from Arabidopsis thaliana) reconstituted on a 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-[Phospho-L-Serine] (Sodium Salt) (POPS), 1-Palmitoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero- 3-Phosphoethanolamine (POPE) BLM on porous lead silicate glass plate driven by a proton gradient demonstrated the ability to move fluid across the membrane. This article discusses a prototype microhydraulic actuator that increases in thickness for an applied pH and sucrose concentration gradient.

The integration of biomolecules with inorganic materials to create functional composites represents a critical step in the development of next-generation biosensors, micro/nanofluidic devices, and biochips that require a combination of abiotic (inorganics) and biotic (proteins, DNA, antibodies) components. Toward this end, we have previously applied combinatorial phage display techniques to identify a constrained heptapeptide sequence (CISLLHSTC) that selectively binds to a perovskite ferroelectric (MOCVD-deposited lead zirconium titanate, PZT). In this work, we examine the binding of this heptapeptide sequence, prepared by solid phase peptide synthesis to sol-gel PZT. In particular, the surface roughness has been examined and the long-term stability of the PZT films in biological buffered aqueous solutions by atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction and P-E hysteresis loop. In addition, the selectivity of the peptide binding to PZT has been determined by immunofluorescence microscopy and the nature of peptide binding to the PZT surface is probed by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy.

Microfabrication was employed to pattern silver (Ag) on a gold (Au) surface. The two metals served as bimetallic heterogeneous catalysts for the heterogeneous decomposition of H2O2. Silver was the cathode, carrying out H2O2 reduction (to water) and gold the anode carrying out H2O2 oxidation (to oxygen). Both protons and electrons are created at the anode (as a part of the reaction) and migrate to the cathode (migration of ions is a current) where they are consumed. Thereby establishing an electric field (migration of ions obeys Ohm's law), which passively pumps fluids through electroosmosis. Electrophoresis also present as either an additive component to the electroosmotic flow or results in pattern formation (occurs at point where electroosmosis is equal and opposite to that of electrophoresis). Herein, the electrokinetic model is further tested and validated as chemical methods to tune the tracer behavior (convection to pattern formation), design of asymmetric patterns through microfabrication and attempts to indirectly measure the electric field were successful.