The structural scaffolding inside our cells can be programmed like photonic hardware to control how they interact with light.
April 23, 2026
Original Paper
Engineering quantum optical responses of microtubules through tryptophan-network simulations and ultraviolet spectroscopy
arXiv · 2604.18604
The Takeaway
Microtubules are the tiny tubes that give cells their shape, but they also have a hidden quantum optical life. By chemically modifying a specific amino acid network, scientists can tune the way these structures glow under ultraviolet light. This transforms biological tissue into a medium that can process light signals with extreme precision. We are now looking at a future where we can wire living cells to perform complex optical computing tasks.
From the abstract
Microtubules host dense ultraviolet-absorbing aromatic networks, suggesting an opportunity to engineer their optical response for biotechnology. Here we assess the feasibility of tuning microtubule fluorescence by combining an excitonic radiative-coupling model with molecular-dynamics-derived microtubule-like assemblies and steady-state absorbance and fluorescence measurements in microplate geometries. Simulations quantify how positional and orientational fluctuations reshape radiative rates and