  The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is a large single cell visible with
the naked eye. When inoculated on a substrate with attractants and repellents
the plasmodium develops optimal networks of protoplasmic tubes which span sites
of attractants (i.e. nutrients) yet avoid domains with a high nutrient
concentration. It should therefore be possible to program the plasmodium
towards deterministic adaptive transformation of internalised nano- and
micro-scale materials. In laboratory experiments with magnetite nanoparticles
and glass micro-spheres coated with silver metal we demonstrate that the
plasmodium of P. polycephalum can propagate the nano-scale objects using a
number of distinct mechanisms including endocytosis, transcytosis and dragging.
The results of our experiments could be used in the development of novel
techniques targeted towards the growth of metallised biological wires and
hybrid nano- and micro-circuits.
