A Practical Guide to Analyzing and Reporting the Movement of Nanoscale Swimmers

Abstract

The recent invention of nanoswimmers– synthetic, powered objects with characteristic lengths in the range of 10-500 nm - has sparked widespread interest among scientists and the general public. As more researchers from different backgrounds enter the field, the study of nanoswimmers gains new opportunities but also significant experimental and theoretical challenges. In particulr, the accurate characterization of nanoswimmers is often hindered by strong Brownian motion and the lack of a clear way to visualize them. When coupled with improper experimental design and imprecise practices in data analysis, these issues can translate to results and conclusions that are inconsistent and poorly reproducible. In light of the increasing popularity of nanoswimmer research and its challenges, we here offer suggestions of best practices for reporting and analyzing their movement. A particular emphasis is on the calculation and analysis of mean squared displacement, the key method for quantifying the mobility of a nanoswimmer. When applied carefully and systematically, the suggested practices can significantly improve the reliability of analyses and prevent embarrassing mistakes