Researchers in the US have created a new "soft" form of matter, the living liquid crystal. These are living bacteria that swim in a non-toxic liquid crystal, which has as base the water.
This dynamic interaction between microorganisms and crystal is what gives the material new properties. The innovative "hybrid" material could be used in the future in various practical applications, amongst others as a biosensor for the early diagnosis of various diseases.
The researchers of Kent University in Ohio and Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, led by Shuang Chu and Igor Aranson, made the announcement at the annual meeting of the American Biophysical Society in San Francisco.
As the biological-mechanical hybrid that it is, the living liquid crystal is constantly moving and taking various shapes depending on the external stimuli it receives. It also saves energy, as living organisms do, in order to move. Furthermore, it has important optical properties, in combination with a microscope, which facilitates the detection of bacteria and other microorganisms.
The living liquid crystal is a promising medium that will help scientists better observe the reactions of molecules and microorganisms and their interactions at the micro- and nano-scale. Precisely for this reason, the new form of matter will be useful for creating new types of diagnostic devices and biosensors, which will better "see" biological processes, such as the development of cancer or an infection in the body.
News Room «Profit»With information from RES - AMP
