Xiang Cheng Co-Authors Paper with New Insights into Bacterial Rectification

How can random bacterial motion be harnessed for controlled movement? A new paper, "Transport and Energetics of Bacterial Rectification," co-authored by CEMS faculty member Xiang Cheng, explores this question. By studying how bacteria navigate through asymmetric structures, the research sheds light on the mechanisms behind this phenomenon and its potential applications in science and medicine.

This research is the result of a successful collaboration that began at the University of Minnesota. Stefano Martiniani, a former assistant professor in the CEMS department, initiated the project alongside Xiang Cheng. Satyam Anand, then a chemical engineering student at UMN co-advised by both professors, continued the work after moving to New York University with Martiniani in 2021. Contributions from Shuo Guo and Xiaolei Ma, postdoctoral researchers in Xiang Cheng’s group, were also integral to this study.

This work has far-reaching implications, shedding light on fundamental thermodynamic principles underlying bacterial rectification and providing practical insights for biomedical applications. From cell sorting and spontaneous fluid pumping to drug delivery and cargo transport, the ability to control microswimmers opens new doors for innovation in science and medicine. The study also highlights the relationship between time irreversibility, particle fluxes, and extractable work, deepening our understanding of nonequilibrium systems.

We congratulate Xiang Cheng for their significant contributions to this groundbreaking research. Read the full paper at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ website.