Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chang Zhou, Ling Yang, Yingjie Wu, Mingcheng Yang, Qiang He
Summary: Chemotactic colloidal motors have promising applications in the biomedical field, requiring submicrometer scale, strong chemotactic ability, and clear chemotactic mechanism.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meiling Chen, Zhihua Lin, Mingjun Xuan, Xiankun Lin, Mingcheng Yang, Luru Dai, Qiang He
Summary: Control over dynamic assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration of light-activated MoS2 colloidal motor swarms has been achieved through a photochemical reaction generating chemical gradients. Self-diffusiophoresis induced by locally consumed oxygen gradient drives phototactic process, allowing external regulation of collective migration and shapes. The programmable swarm transformation provides proof-of-concept for active soft materials with adaptive and interactive functions.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shurui Yuan, Xiankun Lin, Qiang He
Summary: The study focuses on the reconfigurable assembly of colloidal motors, which is driven and modulated by chemical reactions and external fields. It discusses the adaptive reconfiguration behaviors and mechanisms, aiming to develop interactive soft matter materials and systems with adaptation and interactive functions comparable to natural systems in the future.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ritu Toor, Lysandre Hourdin, Sharvina Shanmugathasan, Pauline Lefrancois, Stephane Arbault, Veronique Lapeyre, Laurent Bouffier, Jean-Paul Douliez, Valerie Ravaine, Adeline Perro
Summary: The design of enzymatic droplet-sized reactors is an important challenge with potential applications in medical diagnostics, water purification, bioengineering, and the food industry. This study demonstrates the construction of enzymatic reactors using coacervates formed by ampholyte polymer chains stabilized with agar. The coacervates can sequester and preserve the catalytic activity of enzymes such as glucose oxidase and catalase. The study investigates the enzymatic cascade reaction within the coacervates and provides new insights into the impact of proximity and confinement on enzymatic activity.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Qihan Zhang, Yuwei Yan, Jun Liu, Yingjie Wu, Qiang He
Summary: This feature article introduces the controllable self-assembly technology of supramolecular colloidal motors and their research progress in the fields of biomedicine and environment. The research provides new opportunities for precise fabrication of colloidal motors and explores the relationship between structure and propulsion.
CURRENT OPINION IN COLLOID & INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chang Zhou, Changyong Gao, Yingjie Wu, Tieyan Si, Mingcheng Yang, Qiang He
Summary: We directly observed the torque-driven active reorientation of glucose-fueled flasklike colloidal motors to a glucose gradient with positive chemotaxis. The study examined the dynamic glucose-gradient-induced alignment and orientation-dependent motility during positive chemotaxis. The motors generate a glucose acid gradient and a glucose gradient through enzymatic reactions, which create phoretic torques at the bottom and the opening, continuously steering the motors towards the glucose gradient. These glucose-fueled flasklike colloidal motors, with chemotactic capability similar to living organisms, hold significant potential for engineering active delivery vehicles in response to specific chemical signals.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jessica Ann O'Callaghan, Daeyeon Lee, Daniel A. Hammer
Summary: This study demonstrates the generation of enzyme-powered microcapsules using droplet microfluidics. By functionalizing the surfaces of the microcapsules with enzyme urease, their motion can be actively driven. The research also explores the role of different surfactants and surface roughness in enhancing the motion of these microcapsules.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ao Feng, Xing Huang, Xie Cheng, Mengyu Chu, Shuai Wang, Xibo Yan
Summary: Due to environmental and health concerns, engineered nanobots face significant challenges in practical applications. This study reports a method to prepare light-driven organic colloidal motors that can convert light energy into chemical energy for transportation tasks in various environments and can be completely deconstructed after the mission to reduce environmental risks.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zesheng Li, Hongyue Zhang, Zhiguang Wu, Qiang He
Summary: The acoustically-propelled rodlike liquid metal colloidal motors can autonomously move at high speed, actively target and internalize into cancer cells, and their photoluminance feature allows real-time monitoring.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
G. C. Antunes, P. Malgaretti, J. Harting
Summary: This study develops a semi-analytical model for self-diffusioosmotic transport in active pores. The authors investigate the spontaneous symmetry breaking in fore-aft symmetric pores and find that the pumping transition is controlled by three timescales. Introducing asymmetry to the pore reveals a second type of advection-enabled transition.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Qingli Qu, Weixia Cheng, Xiaoli Zhang, Hossein Ravanbakhsh, Guosheng Tang, Aying Zhou, Dong Pei, Ranhua Xiong, Chaobo Huang
Summary: Enzymatic cascade reactions play a crucial role in cellular metabolism and biological signal transduction. Artificial microreactors have gained increasing attention due to their ability to mimic the efficient and selective biological cascade catalytic systems in cells. Natural hydrogels such as alginate and chitosan are considered suitable materials for matching the properties of the extracellular matrix. Inspired by the structures of eukaryotic cells, alginate/chitosan multicompartment microcapsules are developed for enzymatic cascade reactions. These microcapsules encapsulate multiple enzymes as biocatalysts, resembling complex physiological reactions. The microcapsules exhibit excellent recyclability, long-term stability at room temperature, and resistance to proteolysis, making them ideal for studying the biomimetic metabolic function of organelles and organs.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Albert Cisquella-Serra, Marc Galobardes-Esteban, Manuel Gamero-Castano
Summary: This article introduces a microfabrication technique for creating scalable multiemitter electrospray sources and demonstrates their excellent propulsive performance through testing. Design elements such as a network of microfluidic channels, accurate alignment, and a pipe-flow configuration contribute to the improved performance and protection of propellant.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giorgia Catinella, Silvia Donzella, Gigliola Borgonovo, Sabrina Dallavalle, Martina Letizia Contente, Andrea Pinto
Summary: OLE is the most abundant phenolic compound in olive trees and has various biological actions. HT, the main degradation product of OLE, is a powerful antioxidant agent. The two-step biotransformation method efficiently transforms OLE into HT, resulting in a high yield of HT that can be commercialized as a natural product.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dongdong Wang, Huihui Wu, Changlai Wang, Long Gu, Hongzhong Chen, Deblin Jana, Lili Feng, Jiawei Liu, Xueying Wang, Pengping Xu, Zhen Guo, Qianwang Chen, Yanli Zhao
Summary: This study presents a new strategy utilizing nanozymes with single-site cascade enzymatic reactions for tumor-specific therapy, demonstrating the ability to selectively kill tumor cells while avoiding harm to normal cells. Through tumor-specific glutathione oxidase activity, the nanozymes were able to amplify the production of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals for tumor cell apoptosis, showing potential for effective tumor growth suppression in vivo.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jianzhi Yang, Yongqing He, Feng Jiao, Ming Wang
Summary: Liquid marbles can be used as microreactors for microfluidic transport, medical diagnostics, and chemical analysis. We investigated the relationship between the oscillation behavior of liquid marbles and magnetic field parameters, and developed a manipulation technique to improve mixing of reactants inside the marbles.