Artificial cell can be used to destroy germs such as E. coli and clean up pollution in water

Scientists have developed an artificial cell that can eat bacteria – just like the hungry video game character Pac-Man. The cells are the size of a red blood cell and can be used to'eat' bad bacteria such as E coli, deliver drugs to sites in the body and clean up pollution in water. The Pac-Man cell was created by researchers at New York and Chicago universities by piercing a microscopic hole in a sphere made from a polymer to allow matter to enter or exit. The cell can be made to pump or'eat' by shining a light on it. The research was published in Nature.