Controlling Long‐Distance Photoactuation with Protein Additives

Abstract

Long-distance wireless actuation indicates precise remote control over materials, sensors, and devices that are widely utilized in biomedical, defence, disaster relief, deep ocean, and outer space applications to replace human work. Unlike radio frequency (RF) control, which has low tolerance toward electromagnetic interference (EMI), light control represents a promising method to overcome EMI. Nonetheless, long-distance lightcontrolled wireless actuation able to compete with RF control has not been achieved until now due to the lack of highly light-sensitive actuator designs. Here, it is demonstrate that amyloid-like protein aggregates can organize photomodule single-layer reduced graphene oxide (rGO) into a well-defined multilayer stack to display long-distance photoactuation. The amyloid-like proteinaceous component docks the rGO layers together to form a hybrid film, which can reliably adhere onto various material surfaces with robust interfacial adhesion. The sensitive photothermal effect and a fast bending in 1 s to switch a circuit are achieved after forming the film on a plastic substrate and irradiating the bilayer film with a blue laser from 100 m away. A photoactuation distance of 50 km can be further extrapolated based on a commercial high-power laser. This study reveals the great potential of amyloid-like aggregates in remote light control of robots and devices.

Amyloid‐Mediated Fabrication of Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials and Their Biomedical Applications

“…Making full use of the simultaneous reduction of lysozyme and graphene oxide by TCEP, a multifunctional hybrid film with layered stacking structure was fabricated through an evaporation casting process (Figure 9c). [ 114 ] The amyloid‐like lysozyme aggregates adsorbed on the rGO nanosheets via hydrophobic interaction and π–π stacking, and promoted the stable dispersion of rGO in aqueous solution. The resultant rGO–amyloid hybrid film could form a homogeneous coating on a surface with robust biomimetic interfacial adhesion.…”

Interfacial Fabrication of CNTs/PVDF Bilayer Actuator with Fast Responses to the Light and Organic Solvent Vapor Stimuli

“…To date, many actuators consisting of carbon nanomaterials and polymer layer still display slow responses (tens of seconds to a few minutes) and insufficient sensitivity in the actuation/recovery process triggered by solvent vapors and [ 7,13,14 ] light stimuli. [ 15–19 ] Zhang et al. [ 20 ] and Deng et al.…”

“…To date, many actuators consisting of carbon nanomaterials and polymer layer still display slow responses (tens of seconds to a few minutes) and insufficient sensitivity in the actuation/recovery process triggered by solvent vapors and [7,13,14] light stimuli. [15][16][17][18][19] Zhang et al [20] and Deng et al [21] reported respectively thermally and solvent responsive actuators with bilayer CNT/polyethylene composite, and graphene/epoxybased polymer. These actuators can be bent reversibly in water or acetone under the controlled of thermal and near-infrared light.…”

Enhanced Stability and Mechanical Properties of a Graphene–Protein Nanocomposite Film by a Facile Non-Covalent Self-Assembly Approach

“…The achieved nano-platform, GO/BaHoF5/PEG/NVP-AUY922, had excellent biocompatibility and made tumor cells more sensitive to hyperthermia, which could promote the development of low-laser-hazard PTT [ 28 ]. In the work of Zhao et al, photomodule single-layer reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been organized into a well-defined multilayer stack with the help of amyloid-like protein aggregates [ 29 ]. The as-fabricated hybrid film reliably adheres to the plastic substrate with robust interfacial adhesion.…”