Zombie diatoms: acoustically powered diatom frustule bio-templated microswimmers

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microfluidics
• Colloid Science

Background:

• Diatomaceous algae, specifically *Aulacoseira granulata*, possess frustules (silica-based cell walls).
• These frustules are naturally occurring, cylindrical microstructures with specific surface chemistry and internal cavities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of diatom frustules for constructing bubble-based, acoustically-powered micro-swimmers.
• To establish a scalable, accessible, and low-cost method for micro-swimmer fabrication.
• To enable further studies on the behavior of active colloids.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the inherent microstructure and surface properties of *Aulacoseira granulata* frustules.
• Fabricating acoustically-powered micro-swimmers using these frustules as building blocks.
• Employing bubble-based propulsion mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the successful construction of micro-swimmers from diatom frustules.
• Confirmed the suitability of frustule microstructures for bubble-based acoustic propulsion.
• Established a scalable and cost-effective fabrication approach.

Conclusions:

• Diatom frustules are a viable and advantageous material for creating acoustically-powered micro-swimmers.
• This method facilitates accessible research into active colloids and their emergent behaviors.
• The approach offers a low-cost and scalable solution for micro-swimmer production.