Biofriendly micro/nanomotors operating on biocatalysis: from natural to biological environments

Abstract

Abstract Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) are tiny motorized objects that can autonomously navigate in complex fluidic environments under the influence of an appropriate source of energy. Internal energy-driven MNMs are composed of certain reactive materials that are capable of converting chemical energy from the surroundings into kinetic energy. Recent advances in smart nanomaterials design and processing have endowed the internal energy-driven MNMs with different geometrical designs and various mechanisms of locomotion, with remarkable traveling speed in diverse environments ranging from environmental water to complex body fluids. Among the different design principals, MNM systems that operate from biocatalysis possess biofriendly components, efficient energy conversion, and mild working condition, exhibiting a potential of stepping out of the proof-of-concept phase for addressing many real-life environmental and biotechnological challenges. The biofriendliness of MNMs should not only be considered for in vivo drug delivery but also for environmental remediation and chemical sensing that only environmentally friendly intermediates and degraded products are generated. This review aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in biofriendly MNM design using biocatalysis as the predominant driving force, towards practical applications in biotechnology and environmental technology.