Computer 3D controlled bacterial transports and aggregations of microbial adhered nano-components

摘要

Bacteria can be used as microcarriers for the transport of nano-components. By exploiting specific taxes such as chemotaxis, aerotaxis or phototaxis, to name but a few examples, sensory-based transports of nano-components towards or away from a specific source of chemical, oxygen, or light for instance, can be achieved. Using microbial adhesion methods, such nano-components can be attached to the surface of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), allowing for precise magnetotaxis computer controlled transport of these nano-components along a planned path on a planar surface or towards a specific region within a 3D space. Here, the possibility of attaching a large number of nano-components to the surface of magnetotactic bacteria combined with the possibility of aggregating a large number of cells in a 3D space suggests the possibility of delivering and aggregating a large number of nano-components at a specific region within a relatively large 3D space using relatively low electrical energy.