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arXiv · 1710.08188

Painting with bacteria: Smart templated self assembly using motile bacteria

Jochen Arlt·Vincent A Martinez·Angela Dawson·Teuta Pilizota·Wilson C K Poon
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Abstract

External control of the swimming speed of `active particles' can be used to self assemble designer structures in situ on the micrometer to millimeter scale. We demonstrate such reconfigurable templated active self assembly in a fluid environment using light powered strains of Escherichia coli. The physics and biology controlling the sharpness and formation speed of patterns is investigated using a bespoke fast-responding strain.

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Jochen Arlt, Vincent A Martinez, Angela Dawson, Teuta Pilizota, Wilson C K Poon. 2017-10-23. Painting with bacteria: Smart templated self assembly using motile bacteria. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03161-8

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