Magnetic control of magnetotactic bacteria swarms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a theoretical model and experimental validation for controlling magnetotactic bacteria swarms using magnetic fields, advancing understanding and potential applications in targeted delivery and micromanipulation.

Contribution

It presents a novel torque dipole-based model for MTB swarm control and two methods for swarm formation, supported by experimental validation and torque measurement.

Findings

Model predictions align well with experimental data

Successfully determined torque generated by MTB species

Validated swarm formation methods experimentally

Abstract

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are of significant fundamental and practical interest, especially for applications such as drug delivery and general-purpose object manipulators and payload carriers. While magnetic and other modes of control for individual MTB have been demonstrated, formation, motion and control of MTB swarms are much less studied and understood. Here, we present a torque dipole-based theoretical model for magnetic control of MTB swarms and two methods for swarm formation, and provide experimental validation of the proposed motion model. Model predictions are in good qualitative and quantitative agreement with experiments and literature. Additionally, we were able to determine the torque generated by Magnetospirillium gryphiswaldense (MSR-1) MTB, and the value corresponds to the reported estimates reasonably well.