A light-regulated bio-micro-actuator powered by transgenic Drosophila melanogaster muscle tissue

This paper reports the first demonstration of a light-regulated bio-micro-actuator powered by a transgenic Drosophila melanogaster DV tissue (insect heart muscle). We expressed a mutant form of blue light-sensitive cation channel, channelrhodopsin-2, into the cell membrane of the DV tissue. The DV tissue was assembled into a micro-structure made of poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The light-sensitive DV tissue contracted synchronously with blue light irradiation, and the micro-actuator was driven in this way. The moving frequency of the micro-actuator increased as irradiation intensity and duration increased. These results demonstrate that the light-driven muscle-powered actuator will have various applications.