Locomotion of micromotors in paper chips. Issue 42 (22nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: De Dios Andres, Paula; Ramos-Docampo, Miguel A.; Qian, Xiaomin; Stingaciu, Marian; Städler, Brigitte
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale. Volume 13:Issue 42(2021)
• Page Start: 17900
• Page End: 17911
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22
• Subjects: Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; 620.505
• DOI: 10.1039/d1nr06221b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-3364

Abstract

Abstract : Micromotors exhibit size, density and surface modification dependent locomotion in different fibrous cellulose environments. Abstract : Locomotion of nano/micromotors in non-aqueous environments remains a challenging task. We assembled magnetic micromotors with different surface coatings and explored their locomotion in paper chips. Poly(l -lysine) deposition resulted in positively charged micromotors. Immobilized cellulase was used to increase the micromotors' paper penetration depth while a polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating was employed to limit the interaction between the micromotors and the cellulose fibers. All micromotors were able to move in the top layers of the paper chips with velocities dependent on the magnetic forces used to induce their locomotion, their sizes and the types of employed paper chips. Maximum speeds of up to ∼25 μm s −1 were observed for PEGylated micromotors in the fibrous cellulose environment. This type of micromotors has the potential to be considered in the area of paper microfluidics to facilitate distribution, or collection of moieties for biosensing or cell culture.