Highly efficient catalytic microtubular engines are synthesized rapidly and inexpensively using an electrochemical growth of bilayer polymer based microtubes within the conically-shaped pores of a polycarbonate template membrane. These mass produced microtubular engines are only 8 �m long, self-propelled at an ultrafast speed (of over 375 body-lengths s-1), and can operate in very low levels of the hydrogen peroxide fuel (down to 0.2%). The propulsion characteristics and optimization of these microtubular engines are described. The linear relation of the speed with the hydrogen peroxide concentrations is observed. The surfactant content has a profound influence on the propulsion of the microengines. The efficient operation in different biological environments (human serum, cell culture media etc.) holds great promise for biomedical applications, such as the targeted drug delivery. The dynamic isolation and unloading of target proteins by aptamer-modified microengines are also demonstrated.

Template synthesis of polymer based highly efficient catalytic tubular microengines

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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