Systems and methods for eradicating biofilms by killing bacteria within a biofilm, degrading the matrix and removing biofilm debris are disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter provides techniques for administering a suspension of H.sub.2O.sub.2 and iron oxide nanoparticles to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix and degrade the bio film matrix, actuating the iron oxide nanoparticles for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris, and moving the biohybrid robots to remove the bio film debris from accessible or enclosed surfaces. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter can include embedding iron oxide nanoparticles in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure, administering the soft robotic structure to a biofilm-covered location, and magnetizing the soft robot structure to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix, degrade the biofilm matrix, and remove biofilm debris from enclosed surfaces.

Disclosed are oligomeric machines for energy harvesting having a first oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, a second oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, and at least one electric generating element. Exemplary oligomeric machines are configured to exhibits stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations and are configured such that in response to a prescribed amount of energy applied thereto, relative movement occurs between the first oligomeric module and the second oligomeric module in a manner causing the mechanical action of the second oligomeric module on the electric generating element to produce an electrical voltage and/or current.

A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy. The hygroscopic material can be applied to flexible sheet materials that flex as the hygroscopic material absorbs or evaporates moisture. The hygroscopic material can also be applied to elastic conductive materials, such that the plates of a capacitor mechanically change the capacitance of the device.

A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy. The hygroscopic material can be applied to flexible sheet materials that flex as the hygroscopic material absorbs or evaporates moisture. The hygroscopic material can also be applied to elastic conductive materials, such that the plates of a capacitor mechanically change the capacitance of the device.

Disclosed are oligomeric machines for energy harvesting having a first oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, a second oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, and at least one electric generating element. Exemplary oligomeric machines are configured to exhibits stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations and are configured such that in response to a prescribed amount of energy applied thereto, relative movement occurs between the first oligomeric module and the second oligomeric module in a manner causing the mechanical action of the second oligomeric module on the electric generating element to produce an electrical voltage and/or current.

In this invention, there are cleaning positions 25a, 25b, and 25c where cleaning tanks 19, 20, and 21 discharge cleaning water onto the surfaces of nozzles 10, 12, and 14 and drying positions 26a, 26b, and 26c where the cleaning water adhered to the surfaces of the nozzles 10, 12, and 14 is sucked up. During movement from the cleaning positions 25a, 25b, and 25c for the nozzles 10, 12, and 14 to the drying positions 26a, 26b, and 26c for the nozzles 10, 12, and 14, a control device 24 causes system water to be discharged from the nozzles 10, 12, and 14 for a first time, and during the sucking up of the cleaning water on the surfaces of the nozzles 10, 12, and 14 at the drying positions 26a, 26b, and 26c, the control device 24 causes the system water to be discharged from the nozzles 10, 12, and 14 for a second time. As a result, it is possible to effectively remove adhered water drops during nozzle cleaning.

A method and system for providing an engine for producing mechanical energy through the absorption and evaporation of moisture uses a hygroscopic material in one or more configurations to do mechanical work. The hygroscopic material can include microbial spores, plant cells and cell materials, silk and hydrogel materials that absorb moisture and expand or swell when exposed to high relative humidity environments and shrink or return to nearly their original size or shape when exposed to low relative humidity environments wherein the moisture evaporates and is released. By exposing the hygroscopic material to a cycle of high relative humidity environments and low relative humidity environments, useful work can be done. One or more transmission elements can be used to couple the hygroscopic material to a generator that converts the mechanical energy to, for example, electrical energy. The hygroscopic material can be applied to flexible sheet materials that flex as the hygroscopic material absorbs or evaporates moisture. The hygroscopic material can also be applied to elastic conductive materials, such that the plates of a capacitor mechanically change the capacitance of the device.

Disclosed are oligomeric machines for energy harvesting having a first oligomeric module having a first end and a second end, a second oligomeric module having a first end and a second end. Exemplary oligomeric machines are configured to exhibits stochastic resonance and/or spontaneous vibrations and are configured such that in response to a prescribed amount of energy applied thereto, relative movement occurs between the first oligomeric module and the second oligomeric module in a manner causing the mechanical action of the second oligomeric module on an electric generating element to produce an electrical voltage and/or current. Also disclosed are energy harvesting cells having a thermal cell, a mechanical-electrical transducer with at least two capacitor plates, and at least one oligomeric machine.

Systems and methods for eradicating biofilms by killing bacteria within a biofilm, degrading the matrix and removing biofilm debris are disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter provides techniques for administering a suspension of H.sub.2O.sub.2 and iron oxide nanoparticles to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix and degrade the bio film matrix, actuating the iron oxide nanoparticles for assembly into biohybrid robots suitable for removal of biofilm debris, and moving the biohybrid robots to remove the bio film debris from accessible or enclosed surfaces. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter can include embedding iron oxide nanoparticles in a hydrogel to form a soft robotic structure, administering the soft robotic structure to a biofilm-covered location, and magnetizing the soft robot structure to substantially eradicate bacteria within a biofilm matrix, degrade the biofilm matrix, and remove biofilm debris from enclosed surfaces.