Biomimetic Artificial Inorganic Enzyme‐Free Self‐Propelled Microfish Robot for Selective Detection of Pb²⁺ in Water

Abstract

The availability of drinking water is of utmost importance for the world population. Anthropogenic pollutants of water, such as heavy-metal ions, are major problems in water contamination. The toxicity assays used range from cell assays to animal tests. Herein, we replace biological toxicity assays, which use higher organisms, with artificial inorganic self-propelled microtubular robots. The viability and activity of these robots are negatively influenced by heavy metals, such as Pb(2+) , in a similar manner to that of live fish models. This allows the establishment of a lethal dose (LD50 ) of heavy metal for artificial inorganic microfish robots. The self-propelled microfish robots show specific response to Pb(2+) compared to other heavy metals, such as Cd(2+) , and can be used for selective determination of Pb(2+) in water. It is a first step towards replacing the biological toxicity assays with biomimetic inorganic autonomous robotic systems.

Synthetic Nano- and Micromachines in Analytical Chemistry: Sensing, Migration, Capture, Delivery, and Separation

“…Chemicals in these systems, e.g., metal ions, may exhibit matrix effects and suppress the motion of the motors, as several groups have reported (90,(115)(116)(117). By inhibiting the enzyme catalase, which is responsible for peroxide decomposition and bubble generation, contaminants in water such as mercury ions result in irreversible loss in catalase activity, and this stops the motion of enzyme-powered microengines (90).…”

Catalytic nanomotors for environmental monitoring and water remediation

“…A very recent publication from Moo et al reported the specific response to Pb 2+ in water, compared with Cd 2+ , by using enzyme-free Cu/Pt bimetallic microtubular motors. 43 The authors take advantage of the different adsorption rates of those heavy metals on the catalytic Pt layer, i.e. Pb 2+ is strongly adsorbed on platinum, whereas Cd 2+ presents weaker interaction.…”

Reusable and Long‐Lasting Active Microcleaners for Heterogeneous Water Remediation

“…Nonetheless, environmental applications of motors have shown promising results [24,25] . Recent advances in this area demonstrated degradation of organics [26][27][28][29] and chemical warfare agent [30][31][32] , sensing of heavy metal [33] , separation of organic materials [34] and oil removal [35] capabilities of nano/micromotors.…”