Biomimetic Cilia

Biological cilia are hair-like structures whose rhythmic beating provides motility for cells and micro-organisms. Cilia can offer a clue to address a current challenge of dexterous manipulation of small particles in microfluidics. Microfluidic manipulation is not efficient because of the fluid’s high viscosity, low inertia, and low molecular diffusivity, in particular, in a small volume. To overcome the challenge, a biomimetic approach that imitates the properties and behaviors of biological cilia has been intensively developed. This chapter reviews various biomimetic approaches in the contexts of design, fabrication, and actuation mechanisms. Theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches are discussed to learn benefits and limitations of biomimetic cilia. The applications of biomimetic cilia are addressed with the corresponding challenges. Toward high throughput bioassays, micromixing and bioreactions are discussed with application of biomimetic cilia, which will have a potential impact on disease diagnosis and drug discovery.