Research on magnetic metallization of bacterial cells

A multidisciplinary approach to the fabrication of biologically based magnetic monomers for biolimited forming is described. Rod-like Bacilli cereus about 0.5 μm in diameter and 3-5 μm in length, were used as templates on which the ferromagnetic material was deposited by an electroless deposition method. Different electroless plating solutions were compared in detail and CoNiP solution was selected. During the deposition process, both dispersant and mechanical stirring were used to solve the problem of aggregation of bacterial cells so as to obtain a uniform plating layer. The CoNiP film on Bacilli cereus was a mixture of crystalline and non-crystalline in the phase structure and showed a good magnetism. The magnetic metallized bacterial cells could be manipulated with a magnetic field. Parallel arrays of these micro magnetic particles were achieved and they could rotate along with the magnetic field.