The applications of nanomotors in the biomedical field
have been
attracting extensive attention. However, it remains a challenge to
fabricate nanomotors in a facile way and effectively load drugs for
active targeted therapy. In this work, we combine the microwave heating
method and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to fabricate magnetic helical
nanomotors efficiently. The microwave heating method can accelerate
intermolecular movement, which converts kinetic energy into heat energy
and shortens the preparation time of the catalyst used for carbon
nanocoil (CNC) synthesis by 15 times. Fe3O4 nanoparticles
are in situ nucleated on the CNC surface by the microwave heating
method to fabricate magnetically driven CNC/Fe3O4 nanomotors. In addition, we achieved precise control of the magnetically
driven CNC/Fe3O4 nanomotors through remote manipulation
of magnetic fields. Anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is then efficiently
loaded onto the nanomotors via π–π stacking interactions.
Finally, the drug-loaded CNC/Fe3O4@DOX nanomotor
can accurately accomplish cell targeting under external magnetic field
control. Under short-time irradiation of near-infrared light, DOX
can be quickly released onto target cells to effectively kill the
cells. More importantly, CNC/Fe3O4@DOX nanomotors
allow for single-cell or cell-cluster-targeted anticancer drug delivery,
providing a dexterous platform to potentially perform many medically
relevant tasks in vivo. The efficient preparation method and application
in drug delivery are beneficial for future industrial production and
provide inspiration for advanced micro/nanorobotic systems using the
CNC as a carrier for a wide range of biomedical applications.
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