Fabrication of Template‐Less Self‐Propelled Micromotors Based on A Metal‐Sandwiched Polytryptophan Body: An Experimental and DFT Study

Abstract

The diverse capabilities of self‐propelled micro/nanomotors open up significant opportunities for various environmental and biomedical applications. Here, a synchronized two‐lobed bubble exhaust drives micromotor comprising a metal (cobalt and gold) sandwiched polytryptophan body (Au/poly‐Trp/Co) in a non‐curved direction. The autonomous motion is achieved through the decomposition of chemical fuel to result in a kayak‐like system. The ejected oxygen bubbles from the interfacial cobalt/polytryptophan layer, as well as the inert nature of the metal segments (Au−Co), were considered for some computational studies of the electronic properties of the composite and physical phenomena at the kayak/electrolyte interfaces, and confirmed the role of Co−Trp in the fuel decomposition. It is believed that the autonomous motion is the combined result of bubble recoil force, self‐electrophoresis, and perturbation in the interfacial hydrogen‐bond network of the poly‐Trp body and water molecules. The velocity of the micromotor in the range 23±4 to 157±17 μm s−1 at different concentrations of H2O2 from 1 % to 10 %. Depending on the method of fragmentation, it is possible to have both single and multiple motorized kayaks with lengths of 1.5 and 6 μm, respectively, that can be tailored for environmental applications.

A novel magnetically guided, oxygen propelled CoPt/Au nanosheet motor in conjugation with a multilayer hollow microcapsule for effective drug delivery and light triggered drug release

“…25 They also reported a template-less self-propelled micromotor based on metallic gold and cobalt sandwiched polytryptophan for use in environmental remediation. 26 Furthermore, for the first time, Shamsipur et al synthesized the oxygen-propelled magnetically-guided nanosheet motors (NSMs) using a simple and rapid method. 27 Here, the propulsion method of the nanosheet motors is based on the surface catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.…”