Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiao Chen, Xiaoyong Ding, Yilin Liu, Jing Li, Wenjuan Liu, Xiaolong Lu, Zhongwei Gu
Summary: Visible light-driven Cu2O@CdSe micromotors with excellent removal performance and effective motion regulation show promising applications in micro environmental remediation.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shaoming Fu, Dongmei Fu, Dazhi Xie, Lu Liu, Bin Chen, Yicheng Ye, Daniela A. Wilson, Fei Peng
Summary: This study presents a highly controllable swarm of test-tube shaped gold-copper micromotors that can be driven and aggregated under near-infrared irradiation. The high temperature in the swarm center, generated by the photothermal properties, can be utilized for tumor phototherapy. This research not only provides a controllable platform for tumor treatment, but also sheds new light on the collective and cooperative behavior of micromotors.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Yanan Zhao, Wanying Song, Jiaqi Xu, Tianli Wu, Zhiyong Gong, Yuchao Li, Baojun Li, Yao Zhang
Summary: Light-driven micro motors with high spatial resolution have been modified with fluorescence materials to combine biosensing functionality. However, these fluorescence micro motors are driven and excited by UV or visible lights, which may cause photo-damage. The proposed upconversion fluorescence micro motors (UCFMs) are constructed by lanthanide (NaYF4: Yb3+, Er3+) doped micro rods and can be driven and excited by near-infrared lights. These UCFMs hold great potential for applications in precise biosensing, single-cell biomedical analysis, and targeted drug delivery.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Article
Robotics
Varun Sridhar, Filip Podjaski, Yunus Alapan, Julia Kroeger, Lars Grunenberg, Vimal Kishore, Bettina Lotsch, Metin Sitti
Summary: In this study, we propose two-dimensional poly(heptazine imide) (PHI) carbon nitride microparticles as light-driven microswimmers. These microswimmers demonstrate high-speed movement in high ionic concentrations and biological media and exhibit controlled drug release capabilities.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Roberto Maria-Hormigos, Beatriz Jurado-Sanchez, Alberto Escarpa
Summary: This review discusses the impact of micro/nanomotors on biosensing research, including design, development of propulsion sources, and applications. The focus is on propulsion-driven forces and their applications in biosensing.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cagatay M. Oral, Martina Ussia, Martin Pumera
Summary: In this study, enzyme-immobilized self-propelled zinc oxide microrobots were proposed to effectively remove antibiotics released into water bodies. The presence of laccase enzyme on the microrobot surfaces enhanced the removal of antibiotics via oxidation. This concept provides an environmentally friendly strategy for the removal of released antibiotics from water bodies.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Masaki Hada, Satoshi Ohmura, Yuki Yamamoto, Yoshiya Kishibe, Wataru Yajima, Ryo Shikata, Tomohiro Iguchi, Keishi Akada, Shoji Yoshida, Jun-ichi Fujita, Shin-ya Koshihara, Yuta Nishina
Summary: Layer stacking of 2D materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, is crucial for controlling their physical and transport properties. By exploiting a specific stacking order, unusual and exotic properties may emerge from the tuning of electronic band structures. This study used time-resolved electron diffraction to monitor the structural dynamics during the layer stacking of graphene oxide (GO) induced by ultraviolet photoexcitation, revealing the mechanisms and dynamics involved in the process.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huihui Feng, Yan Zhang, Fengling Cui
Summary: Cuprous oxide (Cu2O), a p-type semiconductor material, has been found to play a significant role in photocatalysis, and enhancing its photocatalytic activity can be effectively achieved by introducing CQDs, leading to improved degradation of methylene blue and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huaide Jiang, Xiaoli He, Ming Yang, Chengzhi Hu
Summary: In this study, visible light-driven micromotors were fabricated that could swim in an environment with relatively high salinity. The energy bandgap of hydrothermally synthesized rutile TiO2 was tuned to generate photogenerated electron-hole pairs under visible light. Platinum nanoparticles and polyaniline were decorated onto the surface of TiO2 microspheres to facilitate the micromotors swimming in ion-rich environments. These micromotors exhibited electrophoretic swimming in NaCl solutions with concentrations as high as 0.1 M, achieving a velocity of 0.47 μm/s without the need for additional chemical fuels. The results demonstrated high biocompatibility of photophoretic micromotors and their potential for practical applications in various fields.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xia Peng, Mario Urso, Martin Pumera
Summary: Mass transfer plays a crucial role in heterogeneous reactions. Micro/nanomachines, as a promising technology for environmental applications, can greatly improve the performance of purification treatments due to their active motion ability and enhanced diffusion. In this study, we developed Pt-free single-component light-powered WO3 micromotors with enhanced diffusion and effective degradation capability for nitroaromatic contaminants in water.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaoyun Li, Rui Wu, Huan Chen, Ting Li, Huiming Jiang, Xingquan Xu, Xueting Tang, Mimi Wan, Chun Mao, Dongquan Shi
Summary: This near-infrared light-driven multifunctional micromotor can rapidly target damaged blood vessels and release different drugs, promoting penetration into plaque sites through motion effects and achieving photothermal ablation of inflammatory macrophages through heat effects. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that these micromotors can provide good therapeutic effects for atherosclerosis.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lukas Dekanovsky, Hai Huang, Sana Akir, Yulong Ying, Zdenek Sofer, Bahareh Khezri
Summary: Light-driven magnetic MXene-based microrobots (MXeBOTs) have been developed for efficient removal and degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The MXeBOTs utilize embedded Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) for magnetic propulsion and grafted bismuth NPs as cocatalysts. The stability and reusability of MXeBOTs are studied in relation to BPA concentration and chemical composition of the swimming environment.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangyu Zhang, Rodolfo Mundaca-Uribe, Nelly Askarinam, Zhengxing Li, Weiwei Gao, Liangfang Zhang, Joseph Wang
Summary: Cell membrane-functionalized micromotors have attracted considerable interest for biomedical applications due to their biofunctional, versatile, and adaptive capabilities. This new class of micromotors demonstrates enhanced performance in complex biological environments, showing potential in advancing micromotor research.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuai Zhang, Yunxuan Zhao, Run Shi, Chao Zhou, Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse, Zhuan Wang, Yuxiang Weng, Tierui Zhang
Summary: This study reports the successful synthesis of uniformly sized and ultrafine Cu2O platelets, which exhibit excellent performance and stability for the visible light driven photocatalytic reduction of N-2 to NH3. The high activity is attributed to long-lived photoexcited electrons in trap states, an abundance of exposed active sites, and the underlying support structure.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shilpa Patial, Rohit Kumar, Pankaj Raizada, Pardeep Singh, Quyet Van Le, Eric Lichtfouse, Dang Le Tri Nguyen, Van-Huy Nguyen
Summary: The review provides an overview of the latest advancements in ZnO photocatalysis for CO2 reduction, including fundamental aspects and various modification strategies. It also presents composites or hetero-structuralization-based Z-scheme formation and a detailed photocatalytic reduction mechanism. Additionally, a new novel Step-scheme (Sscheme) heterostructure modification with a charge transfer pathway mechanism is highlighted in this review.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
