Designing a self-propelled vesicle inspired by a bacterial swimmer

We present an original design for a self-propelling lipid bilayer vesicle using a DNA origami rotary motor, powered by transmembrane water flow[1] generated via photoactivable sodium pumps[2] and mimicking bacterial locomotion with a rigid helical flagella. We have built a numerical model to assess the compatibility between the elements of the system and the viability of its structure and function. From this model, we have identified the limitations of the current design and proposed additional functions to consider for future development.

This video was created by Emma Brix, a student in the Cell Physics Master program at the University of Strasbourg.

Related resources:

[1] X. Shi, A. K. Pumm, C. Maffeo, et al., A dna turbine powered by a transmembrane potential across a nanopore, Nature Nanotechnology 19, 338 (2024)

[2] Y. V. Bertsova, A. V. Bogachev, and V. P. Skulachev, Proteorhodopsin from dokdonia sp. pro95 is a light-driven na+-pump, Biochemistry (Moscow) 80, 449 (2015)