Biocatalytic Micro‐ and Nanomotors

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 26; no. 49; pp. 11085 - 11092
• Main Authors: Hermanová, Soňa, Pumera, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2020
• Subjects: Biocatalysis; biocatalytic micro-/nanomotors; Biocompatibility; Biosensors; Chemical bonds; Chemistry; Contaminants; Drug delivery; Drug delivery systems; Environmental monitoring; enzyme catalysis; enzyme models; Enzymes; Fuels; Functional materials; Glycerides; Metabolites; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanotechnology devices; Peptides; Pollution monitoring; self-propulsion; Substrates; Urea; Water pollution; biocatalytic micro-/nanomotors; enzyme catalysis; self-propulsion; drug delivery; enzyme models
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202001244

Enzyme‐powered micro‐ and nanomotors are tiny devices inspired by nature that utilize enzyme‐triggered chemical conversion to release energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substrate (fuel) to actuate it into active motion. Compared with conventional chemical micro‐/nanomotors, these devices are particularly attractive because they self‐propel by utilizing biocompatible fuels, such as glucose, urea, glycerides, and peptides. They have been designed with functional material constituents to efficiently perform tasks related to active targeting, drug delivery and release, biosensing, water remediation, and environmental monitoring. Because only a small number of enzymes have been exploited as bioengines to date, a new generation of multifunctional, enzyme‐powered nanorobots will emerge in the near future to selectively search for and utilize water contaminants or disease‐related metabolites as fuels. This Minireview highlights recent progress in enzyme‐powered micro‐ and nanomachines. Thrust engines: Enzymes provide various artificial active structures with a thrust for their self‐propulsion in different media. Current enzyme‐powered micro‐ and nanomotors are considered progressive tools in targeted drug delivery, biosensing, and water remediation. Rapidly growing research in this field promises the advanced design of multifunctional superstructures created by self‐assembling properly selected enzymes and support materials.