Mizzou researchers draw on cells with frozen ethanol, electron beams and purple-tinted microbes

In Missouri, imagine drawing on something as delicate as a living cell—without damaging it. Researchers at the University of Missouri have made this discovery using an unexpected combination of tools: frozen ethanol, electron beams and purple-tinted microbes. By advancing a method called ice lithography, the team was able to etch incredibly small, detailed patterns directly onto fragile biological surfaces.

While traditional lithography is commonly used to make tiny circuits and other electronic parts for phones and computers, it relies on a liquid process that can easily harm delicate materials, including carbon nanotubes and biological membranes. That’s where Mizzou’s ice-based approach stands out. By using a layer of frozen ethanol instead of liquid, they’ve created a gentler, more precise way to work with materials once considered too fragile to handle. The study is published in the journal Nano Letters.