Forecastable and Guidable Bubble‐Propelled Microplate Motors for Cell Transport

Abstract

Cell transport is important to renew body functions and organs with stem cells, or to attack cancer cells with immune cells. The main hindrances of this method are the lack of understanding of cell motion as well as proper transport systems. In this publication, bubble-propelled polyelectrolyte microplates are used for controlled transport and guidance of HeLa cells. Cells survive attachment on the microplates and up to 22 min in 5% hydrogen peroxide solution. They can be guided by a magnetic field whereby increased friction of cells attached to microplates decreases the speed by 90% compared to pristine microplates. The motion direction of the cell-motor system is easier to predict due to the cell being opposite to the bubbles.

Ultrafast Directional Janus Pt–Mesoporous Silica Nanomotors for Smart Drug Delivery

“…Although there are numerous nano/microdevices powered by external forces, such as magnetic, acoustic, or electric fields, chemically powered prototypes are the most widely used. These motors’ autonomous movement is due to the conversion of chemical substances into mechanical energy by different transduction mechanisms, summarized in the generation of bubbles, 4 − 7 auto-electrophoresis, 8 , 9 or auto-diffusiophoresis. 10 − 12 The main geometries that chemically self-propelled engines present are nanowires, 13 microtubes, 14 and Janus-type, 15 whereas their composition is usually based on metals with intrinsic catalytic activity, among which platinum (Pt; that decomposes hydrogen peroxide in water and oxygen gas) and zinc (Zn; by Zn auto-oxidation to generate hydrogen bubbles) attract more attention.…”

“…Although there are numerous nano/microdevices powered by external forces, such as magnetic, acoustic, or electric fields, chemically powered prototypes are the most widely used. These motors’ autonomous movement is due to the conversion of chemical substances into mechanical energy by different transduction mechanisms, summarized in the generation of bubbles, − auto-electrophoresis, , or auto-diffusiophoresis. − The main geometries that chemically self-propelled engines present are nanowires, microtubes, and Janus-type, whereas their composition is usually based on metals with intrinsic catalytic activity, among which platinum (Pt; that decomposes hydrogen peroxide in water and oxygen gas) and zinc (Zn; by Zn auto-oxidation to generate hydrogen bubbles) attract more attention. The propulsion mechanism followed by these active vehicles depends on their geometry but is more strongly influenced by their size, as at the nanometric scale the diffusion-type mechanisms govern the movement and any type of directionality is usually lost in favor of rotational diffusion. , This is a drawback, as the implementation of this technology in real biotechnological applications, such as drug delivery, environmental bioremediation, or biosensing, usually requires controlling the artificial motors’ speed and direction toward a specific location.…”

Nanoparticles in Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Layer-by-Layer (LbL) Films and Capsules—Key Enabling Components of Hybrid Coatings

“…Application of the above structures in water analysis has been proposed. Contrary to the approach used in classical drug delivery [85], a method of HeLa controlled transportation of cells was also presented. The system is based on relatively known and popular bubble-propelled particles, constructed of polyelectrolytes.…”

Emerging Micro/Nanomotor‐Based Platforms for Biomedical Therapy

“…In addition to magnetic‐driven motor, the bubble‐driven polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) Fe 3 O 4 ‐Pt microplates was also explored for cell transport . With Pt, the motor catalytically decomposed H 2 O 2 into oxygen bubble and be propelled, achieving transport of HeLa cells.…”