Self-assembly is an important process in biological systems and also a promising avenue toward dynamic and responsive micro- and nano-technologies. This study discusses the non-equilibrium self-assembly of inherently magnetic bacteria oriented perpendicular to a solid surface. An interplay between hydrodynamic and magnetic interactions leads to stable three-dimensional clusters in the long-time regime, which may be programmatically assembled, disassembled, and translated across a surface. The implications of the findings for the rational design of non-equilibrium self-assembly in general are discussed.
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