Intelligent Micro/nanomotors with Taxis

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.8b00291
• Publication Date: 2018-11-16T17:43:15Z
• Authors: Ming You; Chuanrui Chen; Leilei Xu; Fangzhi Mou; Jianguo Guan
• Keywords: Taxis

Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) are micro/nanoscale devices that can convert energy from their surroundings into autonomous motion. With this unique ability, they may revolutionize application fields ranging active drug delivery to biological surgeries, environmental remediation, and micro/nanoengineering. To complete these applications, MNMs required have a vital capability reach destinations. Employing external guide the targets is common effective way. However, in scenarios where generally unknown or dynamically change, must possess of self-navigation self-targeting. Taking advantage tactic movements toward away signal sources, numerous intelligent with self-targeting been demonstrated attracted much attention during past few years. In Account, we elucidate response mechanisms such MNMs, which summarized as two main models. One local vector fields, including those chemical concentration gradients, gravity, flows, magnetic existing systems, achieve overall alignment asymmetric via aligning torques, directing swim sources. Another isotropic produce propulsion forces direction solely determined by field regardless Brownian rotations. Then discuss highlight recent progress chemotactic, phototactic, rheotactic, gravitactic, magnetotactic motors. Artificial chemotactic be designed different morphologies compositions if reactions associated gradients. phoretic slip flows induced, leading torques enable anisotropic particles align exhibit chemotaxis. For phototactic light irradiation establishes surrounding motors light-induced physical effects generate Shape-asymmetric reorient natural fluid because applied inducing rheotactic movements. either centroid components distributed asymmetrically maintain orientation under torque triggered gravity forces, generating motions. end, envision future development synthetic enhancement sensitivity target signals, increasing diversity motor combining multiple endow functionality. By highlighting current achievements offering our perspective on look forward inspiring emergence next generation taxis.