The self-propelled artificial micro/nanostructures represent one of major exciting yet challenging area in the scientific community. Considerable research efforts have been devote to the design and fabrication of the synthetic micro/nanomotors due to their potential application in the field of biomedicine, isolation and detection of targets, development of micro/nanodevices, environmental remediation, dynamic self-assembly, and other emerging applications. During the past decade, diverse micro/nanostructures with composition of metals, artificial polymers and inorganic particles have been developed as chemical powered micro/nanomotors. Their poor biocompatibility and biodegradability hinders their practical applications, ranging from targeted drug delivery environmental remediation. Moreover, in many cases, synthetic motors are requested to encapsulate, transport, and release targeted substances by themselves in an easy and controllable way. Here we demonstrate a biodegradable and biocompatible polysaccharide multilayer nanotubes as self-propelled nanorockets for delivery and drug release. Two natural polysaccharides, chitosan and alginate were self-assembled as the framework of the nanorockets based on a template-assisted layer-by-layer technique. The platinum nanoparticles and magnetic nanoparticles were also integrated into the inner surfaces of the nanorockets. The self-propulsion of the polysaccharide multilayer nanorockets relies on the oxygen bubbles which generated from catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The velocity of the nanorocket can be tuned by changing the fuel concentration, and the motion direction can be guided by applying an external magnetic field. More importantly, these LbL-assembled nanorockets can be served as both autonomous motor and smart cargo, performing drug loading, targeted transportation and remote controlled release in the vicinity of cells and tissues in an organism. Hence, such self-propelling nanorockets may provide a promising platform for the development of rapidly delivering drug carriers in future.

Autonomous layer-by-layer assembled nanorockets for drug transportation and controlled release

248th National Meeting (2014)

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