研究・産学官民連携 Research

Creating and Illustrating Life: Molecular Robots and Molecular Bio-Art

Research Projects and Initiatives

Recent Studies at Faculty of Design

Creating and Illustrating Life: Molecular Robots and Molecular Bio-Art

Department of Design Futures, Faculty of Design
INOUE Daisuke, Associate Professor

Bio System as a Machine: Building Frankenstein’s Creature from Molecules

 Our bodies are composed of various nanoscale* components, such as proteins and DNA, intricately assembled to form the complex machinery of life. Over the 4.6 billion years since the Earth's formation, these molecular-scale machines have been refined through countless cycles of trial and error. Despite remarkable advances in technology, we human beings still lack the capability to design and construct such systems from scratch. Within living cells, countless molecular machines coexist and often function cooperatively.

 At the Inoue Laboratory of Faculty of Design at Kyushu University, we are striving to artificially design and synthesize these miniature machines. By combining them, we aim to create ultra-small robots (molecular robots) that mimic the functions of living cells (Fig.1). While living organisms naturally integrate and operate multiple machines cooperatively, artificial systems often face challenges—even the addition of just two components can disrupt the entire system. Much like Frankenstein’s monster, merely assembling parts does not guarantee functionality; detailed environmental and functional designs are necessary.

 By exploring the conditions under which multiple molecular components can work together effectively, we believe that refining this process will eventually allow us to design complex systems comparable to living organisms. If we achieve the ability to create life-like systems, we may see a future where everything around us is composed of biological entities, leading to buildings and furniture that adapt to their environments and transform our daily lives.
(*One nanometer is 1/1,000,000,000 of a meter.)

Figure 1. Molecular robots made from molecular bio components. At first glance, they appear to be living cells or unicellular organisms, but these are artificially created. Protein filaments, known as the cytoskeleton, which form the framework of cells, were placed inside a lipid capsule that mimics the cell membrane.

Molecular Bio-Art: Visualizing and Illustrating the Nanoworld

 Alongside designing and assembling tiny machines, the lab also creates artworks inspired by the world at the cellular scale. These works are referred to as “molecular bio-art” (Fig.2, Fig. 3). The molecular world is a minuscule realm that is difficult to visualize and imagine. Its scale differs vastly from that of the human world. To make this hidden world more accessible, the lab engages in outreach activities by creating art that visualizes these molecular realms using protein micropatterning, 2D illustrations, 3D computer graphics, virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). These artworks allow us to not only see but also experience the nanoscale world.

 Through this dual approach of engineering and art, the lab pushes the boundaries of understanding and creativity into the realm of molecular-scale systems.

Figure 2. Examples of molecular bio-art: from the top left, a 3D illustration of an animal cell　and a cellular pathway made of proteins, AI-generated cell × idol group, a VR world where one can walk around inside a cell, and a text art drawn with proteins.

Figure 3. Cover images of scientific journals created using molecular bio-art.

■Contact
Department of Design Futures, Faculty of Design
INOUE Daisuke, Associate Professor
Lab website: https://www.cytoarchitec.com/