The motor for the cage
A micromotor was created to move molecules and cells
A group of scientists from China and the United States has developed a micromotor that can move cells or molecules without damaging them. This will help in targeted drug delivery, nanomedicine, tissue engineering and restorative medicine. The results of the work are published in the journal Science Advances (Ren et al., 3D steerable, acoustically powered microswimmers for single-particle manipulation).
"These "microflots" make it possible to control individual particles in three-dimensional space with high accuracy. This does not require preliminary testing, marking and changing surfaces," said one of the researchers, Professor Joseph Wang of the University of California at San Diego.
Micromotors are hollow polymer semi-capsules coated with gold. Their length is 7.5 microns, the outer diameter is five microns. They contain a small piece of nickel, which allows you to control the direction of their movement with magnets. Inside, the surface of the capsule is chemically treated to repel water, so that when the motor is immersed, an air bubble spontaneously forms in it. The latter helps the capsule respond to ultrasound. When the wave "hits" the bubble, it begins to move and pull the entire structure with it. To keep the micromotor moving, scientists use a magnetic field. By changing its direction, the researchers control the trajectory and speed of the "micro-melting".
The researchers tested micromotors: with their help, they moved silica particles and HeLa cells, drew letters with them and forced them to climb small ladders and blocks to show the possibility of their movement in three-dimensional space.
The authors note that both magnets and ultrasound are relatively safe for the body, so they can be used in medicine. In the future, scientists want to improve the micromotor and make them more biocompatible. To do this, they plan to use biodegradable polymers and replace nickel with a less toxic magnetic material, for example, iron oxide.
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