Sea sponges, masters of underwater architecture, build intricate and robust glass skeletons. Now, scientists have harnessed the power of these marine creatures to create bio-inspired microlenses. Researchers have engineered bacteria to produce silica, mimicking the sea sponge’s bioglass.
Microlenses, typically challenging and costly to manufacture, are tiny lenses about the size of a single cell that focus light at a microscopic scale. Inspired by sea sponges’ ability to create optically excellent glass structures, the team engineered bacterial cells to express silicatein, a sea sponge enzyme that mineralizes silica.
The resulting bacterial microlenses are far smaller than conventionally produced ones. They are easily grown, create their glass coating at standard temperatures and pressures, and remain alive for months, creating a living optical device. These properties open up new possibilities in imaging technology.
The team used a novel microscopy technique to measure the bacteria’s optical properties and collaborated with material scientists to ensure silica was present. Mathematical models predicted the optical behavior of these glass-coated cells, revealing their potential to create highly focused light beams.
These tiny, bio-manufactured lenses could lead to higher-resolution image sensors for medical and commercial use, enabling the visualization of smaller structures, even subcellular features, than previously possible. Their ability to sense and respond to their environment makes them attractive for unique applications, including low-gravity environments. These bacteria-based microlenses showcase the power of biomimicry, offering a sustainable and efficient route to advanced optical components, potentially revolutionizing fields from medicine to space exploration.
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