  Using numerical simulations, we characterized the behavior of an elastic
membrane immersed in an active fluid. Our findings reveal a nontrivial folding
and re-expansion of the membrane that is controlled by the interplay of its
resistance to bending and the self-propulsion strength of the active components
in solution. We show how flexible membranes tend to collapse into multi-folded
states, whereas stiff membranes oscillates between an extended configuration
and a singly folded state. This study provides a simple example of how to
exploit the random motion of active particles to perform mechanical work at the
micro-scale.
