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About

Hiroshi Inaba is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of peptide nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and photoresponsive materials. His work focuses on engineering peptide nanofibers and liposomes to mimic and control cytoskeletal dynamics, with the ultimate goal of creating bioinspired micromotors and artificial cells. Inaba’s most notable contribution is the demonstration of light-induced propulsion of giant liposomes driven by peptide nanofiber growth—a synthetic analog of how pathogens like *Listeria* use actin polymerization for movement. This work, published in 2018, has garnered 33 citations and represents a breakthrough in nano/micromotor design. He has also developed photoresponsive peptide materials that enable spatiotemporal control of self-assembly and biological functions, as reviewed in a 2023 article with 13 citations. Inaba’s research on reversibly polymerizing peptide nanofibers inside liposomes, triggered by spiropyran photoisomerization, has led to dramatic morphological changes in synthetic membranes (9 citations). His latest work (2025) explores optical control of microtubule accumulation using tau-derived peptide-fused photoresponsive proteins, opening new avenues for manipulating cytoskeletal superstructures. With a growing citation record and a clear trajectory toward functional, light-controlled synthetic cells, Inaba is establishing himself as a leader in peptide-based biomimetic systems.