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Apr 24 2025
1Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are among the toughest creatures on Earth. These eight-legged microscopic animals, measuring about half a millimeter long, have gained fame for their ability to endure extreme environments—ranging from freezing cold and intense radiation to the vacuum of space. Now, scientists have leveraged this remarkable resilience in a groundbreaking experiment that “tattoos” these hardy organisms using a microfabrication technique.
The study, published in Nano Letters, involved applying microscopic patterns to tardigrades' bodies through a process known as ice lithography. This technique, which traditionally serves the electronics and photonics industries, involves using an electron beam to carve intricate designs into a frozen surface. By adapting this method for use on living tissue, researchers aim to bridge the gap between microfabrication and biomedical applications.
Lead researchers Ding Zhao and Min Qiu, along with their team, demonstrated that their approach could be extended to other organisms, including bacteria. The ultimate goal is to produce biocompatible devices such as biosensors and microelectronics that can function seamlessly within or on living systems.
To begin the process, the tardigrades were placed into a cryptobiotic state—a dormant, dehydrated form that allows them to survive extreme stress. Once in this state, an individual tardigrade was transferred onto carbon-composite paper and cooled to a frigid -226°F (-143°C). The animal was then coated with anisole, an organic compound with a scent similar to anise, which served as a protective barrier.
The electron beam was directed at the anisole-covered tardigrade, prompting a chemical reaction that created a biocompatible substance. This material adhered to the creature’s surface as it gradually returned to room temperature. Any unreacted anisole sublimated, leaving behind the precise pattern etched by the beam—effectively forming a “tattoo.”
This method allowed for intricate designs such as dots, lines, and squares just 72 nanometers wide, and even included a miniature university logo. Although only 40% of the tardigrades survived the full procedure, the scientists believe that optimization can improve these outcomes. Importantly, the surviving tardigrades displayed no behavioral differences after revival, suggesting the tattoos did not interfere with their normal functions.
Gavin King, the originator of the ice lithography method who did not participate in the research, hailed the study as a significant leap forward. He noted that manipulating living matter at this level was once the realm of science fiction and that the implications for future biomedical technologies are profound.
Encouraged by their findings, Zhao and Qiu envision future possibilities such as microbial cyborgs and embedded biosensors. Their work could open new avenues for interfacing electronics with biological systems—an innovation that might redefine the limits of medical and environmental monitoring.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-scientists-tattoo-tardigrades.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
