At a Glance
- Scientists used tardigrades’ extreme resilience to demonstrate a new technique called ice lithography, successfully creating nanoscale patterns on their bodies without harming the organisms.
- The process involved freezing the tardigrades in a suspended state, applying a thin ice layer, and using an electron beam to etch designs as small as 72 nanometers wide.
- Remarkably, the patterns stayed intact even after physical stress, and about 40 percent of the tardigrades survived and behaved normally after rehydration.
- Designs included dots, squares, and even university logos, highlighting the precision and versatility of this nanoscale fabrication method.
- This technique may eventually enable biotechnological advances like living biosensors and microbial cyborgs, merging biology with microelectronics in unprecedented ways.
Tardigrades, also known as water bears, are famous for their ability to survive extreme conditions—freezing temperatures, radiation, high pressure, and even outer space. Researchers have now taken advantage of this resilience to explore a new method of creating micro and nanoscale patterns on living organisms. In a recent study published in Nano Letters, scientists successfully used a technique called ice lithography to create tiny patterns on the surfaces of tardigrades without damaging them.
The technique works by freezing tardigrades into a state called cryptobiosis, which is similar to suspended animation. The researchers first dehydrated the tardigrades, then placed them onto a cold sheet and covered them with a thin layer of ice. They then used an electron beam to carve intricate patterns into the ice, which left behind designs on the tardigrades’ surface once the ice sublimated (turned directly from a solid to a gas). The patterns were incredibly precise, as small as 72 nanometers wide, smaller than the width of a human hair.
What makes this work especially interesting is that the patterns remained stable even after being stretched, immersed in solvents, or dried out. After the process, the tardigrades were rehydrated and revived, and to everyone’s surprise, they carried their “micro-tattoos” without any change in behavior. The team created a range of patterns, including simple shapes like squares and dots, as well as more complex designs like the university’s logo. About 40% of the tardigrades survived the procedure, with hopes for improving survival rates through further fine-tuning.
This breakthrough in micro/nanofabrication could lead to new applications in biomedicine and electronics. The ability to print microelectronics directly onto living tissue could revolutionize how we think about biotechnology. With further development, this technology may pave the way for innovations like microbial cyborgs and advanced biosensors. Researchers are excited about the potential of integrating living organisms with modern electronics, making what once seemed like science fiction a real possibility.
References
- Yang, Z., Wu, S., Zhao, K., Zhao, D., & Qiu, M. (2025). Patterning on living tardigrades. Nano Letters, 25(15), 6168–6175. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c00378
- American Chemical Society. (2025, April 23). Scientists have found a way to ‘tattoo’ tardigrades. Phys.Org; American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-scientists-tattoo-tardigrades.html
