An All‐Optical Driven Bio‐Photovoltaic Interface for Active Control of Live Cells

ABSTRACT Cells are the foundation of life, and controlling their behavior is crucial for advances in medicine and biotechnology. Many current methods for cell manipulation are based on nanofabrication procedures, and hence they are limited in terms of their ability to dynamically adjust control over time and space. Here, a bio‐photovoltaic interface for live cell manipulation is presented that can be activated non‐invasively and remotely, demonstrating the possibility to control, to some extent, the spatial motility, the adhesion, and the morphology of the cells adhering to this interface. This platform uses a patterned light‐induced electric potential in iron‐doped lithium niobate crystals. The results show 80% of cells exhibiting unidirectional polarization and 50% demonstrating nuclear squeezing during dynamic real‐time monitoring by a holographic microscope. The unique light‐driven and reversible nature of these electric potentials, jointly with erasable and re‐programmable functions, provides a dynamic and reconfigurable control on live cells. Consequently, this platform has significant potential for advancing research in cell biology and enabling innovative applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and basic cell fate research.