Movement of polymer microcarriers using a biomolecular motor

This work enables polymer microcarriers to be transported on a motor protein coated substrate. The size of microencapsulation system- layered polymer capsules could be controlled through changing heating time during post-treatment. In this active biomimetic system, the microtubules act as shuttles that transport the attached polymer microcarriers. The velocity of the motility does not depend on size of the capsules but the fraction of mobile capsules depends on capsule size and biotinylation proportion of microtubule. The microtubule could also propel dextran-filled capsules to transport the internal components on the activated surface. The study integrates the artificial materials into kinesin-microtubule system and provides a potential use for straightforward and facile transport of polymer materials and fabrication of the hybrid microdevices for biochemical sensing and delivery applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.