Caltech Researchers Develop First Programming Language for Active Material
Scientists at Caltech have introduced a groundbreaking programming language for active material, a significant step in bioengineering and nanotechnology. The discovery builds upon previous research that demonstrated how light could be used to control active matter—materials made of energy-consuming microscopic components that move collectively.
The study, led by computational biology professor Matt Thomson and biophysics professor Rob Phillips, was published in Nature Materials on January 29. Postdoctoral scholar Fan Yang and graduate student Shichen Liu were the study’s co-first authors.
Engineering Active Matter with Light
Active matter, often compared to a flock of birds moving in unison, consists of microscopic protein filaments that make up a cell's cytoskeleton. These filaments, called microtubules, work alongside motor proteins to help cells move, transport cargo, and divide. In 2019, Caltech researchers engineered these microtubules to respond to light gradients, allowing them to form specific structures. However, the system lacked programmability—until now.
A Programming Breakthrough
Using computational modeling, Fan Yang developed a programming framework for active matter by applying principles of linear superposition—a mathematical concept that enables precise control of microtubule motion. Liu then confirmed these theoretical predictions through lab experiments.
The new system allows researchers to use patterns of light to manipulate tiny biological structures, mix chemicals, and apply mechanical stress at the cellular level. This has wide-ranging applications in nanotechnology, synthetic embryo research, and immune cell manipulation.
“Active matter has been an exciting concept in bioengineering, but until now, it was nearly impossible to control,” says Thomson. “This work changes that.”
A Future of Light-Controlled Cells
Traditionally, scientists use micropipettes to stretch and separate individual cells, a delicate process that risks cell damage. With this new approach, researchers can gently guide cell clusters using only light.
Inspired by DNA computing and strand displacement reactions, the team is now collaborating with experts like Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, Caltech’s Bren Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering, to explore applications in synthetic embryo construction.
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