Actuated structures
are becoming relevant in medical fields; however,
they call for flexible/soft-base materials that comply with biological
tissues and can be synthesized in simple fabrication steps. In this
work, we extend the palette of techniques to afford soft, actuable
spherical structures taking advantage of the biosynthesis process
of bacterial cellulose. Bacterial cellulose spheres (BCS) with localized
magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have been biosynthesized using two different
one-pot processes: in agitation and on hydrophobic surface-supported
static culture, achieving core-shell or hollow spheres, respectively.
Magnetic actuability is conferred by superparamagnetic iron oxide
NPs (SPIONs), and their location within the structure was finely tuned
with high precision. The size, structure, flexibility and magnetic
response of the spheres have been characterized. In addition, the
versatility of the methodology allows us to produce actuated spherical
structures adding other NPs (Au and Pt) in specific locations, creating
Janus structures. The combination of Pt NPs and SPIONs provides moving
composite structures driven both by a magnetic field and a H2O2 oxidation reaction. Janus Pt/SPIONs increased
by five times the directionality and movement of these structures
in comparison to the controls.
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