Self-powered artificial nanomotors are attracting increased interest from scientists in their effort to mimic biological motors but also for their potential applications in nanomachinery, robotics and sensing. We have recently demonstrated that bowl-shaped supramolecular architectures resulted from the controlled shape-transformation of polymersomes under osmotic stress generates an additional internal cavity suitable for platinum nanoparticles entrapment and subsequent catalytic nanomotor assembly. The assembled asymmetric structure exhibited autonomous movement as a result of the rapid discharge of jet gases produced during the catalytic decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide. However nanomotors running on alternative fuel and in biological systems are required for such structures to be used in biological environments. Here we report the supramolecular assembly of nanomotors containing enzymes that perform several substrate recycling steps, capable to propel the structures in alternative fuels such as glucose and lactate at low and biological relevant concentrations. This new strategy for enzyme entrapment creates a system where an efficient energy conversion is possible and provides thus a broader scope to the nanomotor design for biological applications.

Autonomous movement of nanomotors fueled by biological substrates using compartmentalization and substrate recycling strategies

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.