Remote-controlled insect navigation using plasmonic nanotattoos

Abstract

and singamaneni@wustl.edu Developing insect cyborgs by integrating external components (optical, electrical or mechanical) with biological counterparts has a potential to offer elegant solutions for complex engineering problems. 1 A key limiting step in the development of such biorobots arises at the nano-bio interface, i.e. between the organism and the nano implant that offers remote controllability. 1,2 Often, invasive procedures are necessary that tend to severely compromise the navigation capabilities as well as the longevity of such biorobots. Therefore, we sought to develop a non-invasive solution using plasmonic nanostructures that can be photoexcited to generate heat with spatial and temporal control. We designed a 'nanotattoo' using silk that can interface the plasmonic nanostructures with a biological tissue. Our results reveal that both structural and functional integrity of the biological tissues such as insect antenna, compound eyes and wings were preserved after the attachment of the nanotattoo. Finally, we demonstrate that insects with the plasmonic nanotattoos can be remote controlled using light and integrated with functional recognition elements to detect the chemical environment in the region of interest. In sum, we believe that the proposed technology will play a crucial role in the emerging fields of biorobotics and other nano-bio applications. Insects often provide compact solutions to several complex engineering problems and serve as an inspiration for developing insect-like robots that attempt to mimic those solutions. 3 However, the ability of such robots' pale when compared to the versatility of the biological organism on which it is modeled upon. Could 'bio-robots' that directly take advantage of the biological capabilities be developed by directly controlling the insects? We sought to examine these issues in this study using locusts (Schistocerca americana) as a model organism.We began by designing a communication system that would allow us to directly send a control signal and guide locust's behavioral responses. Prior work in this regard have investigated the use of electrical stimulation, whereby electrodes are surgically implanted into different parts of the insect body. 4 While this approach is feasible, it requires invasive surgical manipulations that could reduce the locomotor capabilities of the insects. Further, they would require the insects to carry a payload comprising at a bare minimum a receiver powered by a battery to deliver the electrical stimulation. The additional weight can once again reduce the ability of the insects to move freely.Therefore, to develop a non-invasive, powerless approach to control locust navigation, we designed a 'plasmonic nanotattoo.' The nanotattoo is comprised of two components: gold nanorods (AuNRs) that act as a photothermal transducers and an ultrathin silk fibroin interfacial film. We sought out to take advantage of gold nanorods as nanotransducers that convert light at specific Supporting InformationExtended Figure 1: Schematic showing th...

Cyborg Insects: Bug or a Feature?

“…Those solutions were mainly based on direct or indirect electrical stimuli. Other different types of actuators have been proposed based on: (i) thermal stimulus considering different species of beetles [39], (ii) optrodes to control the flight of dragonfly based on flexible waveguide arrays [40], (iii) biochemical molecules for muscle relaxation by a specific type of liposome [41] , (iv) plasmonic nanotattoos [42], (v) artificial claw open-close cycle mechanism [43], and (vi) explosive chemical vapors [44].. Actuation in cyborg insects poses ethical questions that have been systematically indicating in [45]. Different domains are identified and the effects of the media coverage is mapped, trying to indicate different types of application with their moral judgment.…”

Smart insect-computer hybrid robots empowered with enhanced obstacle avoidance capabilities using onboard monocular camera

“…One of the most critical tasks of the hybrid robot's development process is insect motion control. In recent years, there has been an influx of work investigating the development of protocols for insect movement control [13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . Ma et al demonstrated that locust jumping movements can be induced by stimulating their leg muscles 19 .…”