Magnetic control of the inclination of biogenic guanine crystals fixed on a substrate

In the present study, we describe the fabrication and manipulation of a micro-mirror system similar to the iridophores of neon tetra that allow microstructural light control. Biogenic guanine crystals as micro-mirrors were adhered to a glass substrate with flexible DNA joints under a vertical magnetic field of 480 mT. We then observed the movement of the micro-mirrors under sub-Tesla horizontal magnetic fields. Under ambient fields, the orientation of the guanine micro-mirrors did not change. Appling a horizontal magnetic field of approximately 400mT generated by an electromagnet induced motion and width changes of the guanine micro-mirrors, which were observed by an optical microscope. However, the inclination of the micro-mirrors recovered upon removal of the magnetic field. The developed guanine micro-mirrors on a glass substrate demonstrate the remote control of microstructural diamagnetic materials, and may show promise for use as an underwater microactuator for microfluidic systems. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.