Graphene Cytobot

This bio-electromechanical device is created when single dormant bacterial spores are coated with Graphene Quantum Dots (GDQs), providing an electrically conductive surface and allowing for remote control. This technology uses the cell's nanoarchitecture and micromachinery to fabricate highly responsive cell-driven devices, creating nano/bio interfaces with spores. The microbiorobot can be controlled by using perpendicular magnetic control systems combined with an electromechanical stepper microscope stage. One known application for this innovation is as a humidity sensor, but its potential lies in a range of fields such as cellular control, implants for biological monitoring, targeted molecular or ionic detection, microbotics and biochemical analysis.

Gender Equality

Challenges

• The high cost of these biorobots may be a limiting factor for their use on female-headed farms.

Opportunities

• It could support areas affected by the climate crisis and give more options for land use for women, thus leading to a higher presence of women in the rural sector.