Chinese Researchers Create World’s First ‘Ice Tattoos’ on Living Creatures
Chinese scientists have achieved a groundbreaking feat by etching nanoscale “ice tattoos” onto living organisms, marking the first time such precise patterns have been carved on life forms. This innovative technology could pave the way for advances in medical nanodevices and microrobots.
Researchers from Westlake University in Zhejiang Province developed a technique that uses ice as a medium to create ultra-fine patterns on microscopic creatures. By replacing traditional photoresist materials with ice, they avoided contamination issues and achieved higher biocompatibility.
“This innovative approach replaces conventional photoresist materials with ice,” said Yang Zhirong, the lead author of the study. “The electron beam etches patterns directly into the ice layer, avoiding contamination from resist removal and making biological applications possible.”
The team chose tardigrades, tiny resilient creatures less than 1 millimeter long, as their subjects. Known as “water bears,” tardigrades can survive extreme conditions like intense radiation, dehydration, and freezing temperatures.
In their experiment, the researchers placed tardigrades into a cryptobiotic state—a condition where their metabolic activities nearly cease. They then coated the creatures with a nanoscale organic ice film and used an electron beam to carve intricate patterns. Remarkably, these “ice tattoos” remained stable even when the tardigrades were subjected to stretching, solvents, or drying.
“This breakthrough could advance microbial sensors, bio-inspired devices, and living microrobots,” Yang explained. “In the future, we could apply ice-carving technology to bacteria and viruses, combining living and mechanical systems to enhance performance.”
The study was published in the journal Nano Letters, highlighting a new frontier in nanotechnology and its potential applications in medicine and bioengineering.
