There is a growing effort in the scientific community to design and fabricate versatile artificial nanomotors propelled by selfgenerated forces, because they have potential in the field of directed drug delivery, roving sensors, isolation and detection of targets, active biomimetic systems, and other emerging applications. [1] Inspired by the nanoscale linear biomotors (for example, kinesins), which can autonomously move in aqueous solution and are powered by spontaneous hydrolysis of biological energy units, substantial efforts towards the design of chemically powerful synthetic motors at the micro-and nanoscale have recently demonstrated the ability of converting chemical energy into autonomous motion based on a fuel solution (for example, aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution). [2][3][4] To explain the motion and energy transfer process in these chemically powered systems, several mechanisms, including bubble propulsion, [5] interfacial tension gradients, [6] self-electrophoresis, [7] self-diffusiophoresis, [8] osmotic propulsion, [9] ultrasound propulsion, [10] and polymerization reactions [11] were proposed.Among diverse synthetic microengines, chemically powered tubular micromotors prepared by the rolled-up technique and template electrosynthesis have displayed a high speed and the controllable directionality of the movement compared to bimetal nanorods or Janus microsphere motors. [12,13] These rocket-like microengines are capable of the pick-up, transportation, and release of various cargoes, including polymer particles, [14] nucleic acids, [15] cancer cells, [16] and bacteria. [17] However, they still have some inherent limitations, such as complex preparation technology, difficulty of surface modification, and poor biocompatibility or biodegradability. Moreover, it is required in many cases that synthetic motors can encapsulate, transport, and release targeted substances by themselves in an easy and controllable way and have good biocompatibility and biodegradability, particularly in both biomedical and environmental fields. Therefore, it still remains a challenge to develop new fabrication methods and expand the diversity of the building components.

We describe a biodegradable, self-propelled bovine serum albumin/poly-l-lysine (PLL/BSA) multilayer rocket as a smart vehicle for efficient anticancer drug encapsulation/delivery to cancer cells and near-infrared light controlled release. The rockets were constructed by a template-assisted layer-by-layer assembly of the PLL/BSA layers, followed by incorporation of a heat-sensitive gelatin hydrogel containing gold nanoparticles, doxorubicin, and catalase. These rockets can rapidly deliver the doxorubicin to the targeted cancer cell with a speed of up to 68 μm/s, through a combination of biocatalytic bubble propulsion and magnetic guidance. The photothermal effect of the gold nanoparticles under NIR irradiation enable the phase transition of the gelatin hydrogel for rapid release of the loaded doxorubicin and efficient killing of the surrounding cancer cells. Such biodegradable and multifunctional protein-based microrockets provide a convenient and efficient platform for the rapid delivery and controlled release of therapeutic drugs.

Plasmonic nanomaterials coupled with catalytically active surfaces can provide unique opportunities for various catalysis applications, where surface plasmons produced upon proper light excitation can be adopted to drive and/or facilitate various chemical reactions. A brief introduction to the localized surface plasmon resonance and recent design and fabrication of highly efficient plasmonic nanostructures, including plasmonic metal nanostructures and metal/semiconductor heterostructures is given. Taking advantage of these plasmonic nanostructures, the following highlights summarize recent advances in plasmon‐driven photochemical reactions (coupling reactions, O2 dissociation and oxidation reactions, H2 dissociation and hydrogenation reactions, N2 fixation and NH3 decomposition, and CO2 reduction) and plasmon‐enhanced electrocatalytic reactions (hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, alcohol oxidation reaction, and CO2 reduction). Theoretical and experimental approaches for understanding the underlying mechanism of surface plasmon are discussed. A proper discussion and perspective of the remaining challenges and future opportunities for plasmonic nanomaterials and plasmon‐related chemistry in the field of energy conversion and storage is given in conclusion.

We describe an approach to modulating the on-demand motion of catalytic polymer-based microengines via near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. The polymer multilayer motor was fabricated by the template-assisted layer-by-layer assembly and subsequently deposition of platinum nanoparticles inside and a thin gold shell outside. Then a mixed monolayer of a tumor-targeted peptide and an antifouling poly(ethylene glycol) was functionalized on the gold shell. The microengines remain motionless at the critical peroxide concentration (0.1%, v/v); however, NIR illumination on the engines leads to a photothermal effect and thus rapidly triggers the motion of the catalytic engines. Computational modeling explains the photothermal effect and gives the temperature profile accordingly. Also, the photothermal effect can alone activate the motion of the engines in the absence of the peroxide fuel, implying that it may eliminate the use of toxic fuel in the future. The targeted recognition ability and subsequently killing of cancer cells by the photothermal effect under the higher power of a NIR laser were illustrated. Our results pave the way to apply self-propelled synthetic engines in biomedical fields.

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