Biomimicry of Magnetotactic Bacteria Via Self-Organized Soft Matter Dispersions

A self-assembled structure designed to mimic magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) by using PEGylated lipid-coated ferrofluid droplet chains dispersed in a thermotropic nematic liquid crystal is presented. This biomimetic structure is compared to live MTBs (M. gryphiswaldense), in terms of structural, functional and dynamic properties. The assembled structure consists of chains of spherical ferrofluid droplets which are significantly larger than the natural MTB magnetosomes that typically display a cuboctahedral chain morphology. Although the self-assembled structure does not achieve the same magnetic coercivity, the presence of a PEGylated lipid coating enhances dispersibility and stability, allowing the formation of long, uniform droplet chains within the liquid crystal medium. Notably, the ferrofluid inclusion in the liquid crystal environment contributes significantly to structural alignment and controlled magnetic responsiveness, suggesting the potential of this self-assembled system in biosensing, targeted delivery, and magnetic-responsive materials.