Author:
Igwe Isaiah,Joseph Emmanuel
Abstract
We experimentally investigate self-assembly in bacteria suspension under low frequency alternating electric field. We observe the emergence of electric field-induced bacterial clusters as a function of electric field strength and bacterial concentrations. Above the electric critical field, bacterial cell self-organize into clusters, with further increase in field strength or bacteria concentration, a second critical point is reached, where 3D out of equilibrium structures are formed. Our findings demonstrates that the self-assembly of microswimmers can be controlled via external electric field. The observed cluster size dynamic equilibrium is in contrast with the features of cluster dynamics observed in cancer cells driven by adhesion where the cluster size distribution never reaches dynamic equilibrium. These results can offer a new pathway to self-organize living cells in biomaterials
Publisher
Federal University Dutsin-Ma