(top) E. coli immobilization induced by DNA net formation as quantified through the motility parameter σ, extracted from bright-field microscopy videos (see Experimental Section). The two colormaps are relative to samples containing E. coli, responsive particles and different ρG values, one insufficient (0.100% w/v, left) and the second sufficient (0.175% w/v, right) to reach the pH threshold for particle activation (5.05, see Figure2d). Bottom: epifluorescence microscopy images corresponding to the σ-maps. Core motifs are labeled with Alexa Fluor 594 (red), while E. coli express EGFP (cyan). Smaller σ-values and co-localization of DNA and bacteria observed in the sample with higher glucose concentration confirm the ability of cholesterolDNA networks to bind and immobilize E. coli. σ-maps and images were collected at t= 1440 min after sample preparation.
