Molecular communication is a bio-inspired communication paradigm using molecules as information carriers. The molecular communication system includes propagation of information carrier molecules between a molecular sender and a molecular receiver and followed by amplification of the information at the receiver. In this article, we built an example molecular communication system using a gemini peptide lipid as a molecular switch. The molecular switch embedded in the lipid bilayer membranes exhibited photoresponsive recognition behaviour towards metal ions, such as Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, to control propagation of molecular capsules formed by small liposomes to a giant liposomal receiver. In addition, the molecular switch acted as an artificial receptor in the receiver, receiving a photonic signal to communicate with an enzyme as a signal amplifier by using Cu²⁺ ion as a mediator between the receptor and the amplifier.

In the wake of the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction catalyzed by ferroin, the swelling–deswelling oscillating soft actuator exhibits 7 min period of self-oscillation for the first time.

The development of handling technology for microscopic biological samples such as cells and spheroids has been required for the advancement of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this study, we developed micro-tweezers with a compliant mechanism to manipulate organoids. The proposed method combines high-resolution microstereolithography that uses a blue laser and topology optimization for shape optimization of micro-tweezers. An actuation system was constructed using a linear motor stage with a force control system to operate the micro-tweezers. The deformation of the topology-optimized micro-tweezers was examined analytically and experimentally. The results verified that the displacement of the tweezer tip was proportional to the applied load; furthermore, the displacement was sufficient to grasp biological samples with an approximate diameter of several hundred micrometers. We experimentally demonstrated the manipulation of an organoid with a diameter of approximately 360 µm using the proposed micro-tweezers. Thus, combining microstereolithography and topology optimization to fabricate micro-tweezers can be potentially used in modifying tools capable of handling various biological samples.