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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles
Published on: November 3, 2010
Molecular shuttles powered by motor proteins: loading and unloading stations for nanocargo integrated into one device
1Laboratory for Biologically Oriented Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
A central challenge on the way to engineer novel materials and nanodevices comprising active transport by nanomotors is the integration of cargo loading and unloading stations on one chip. Exploiting DNA hybridization in zipping and shearing geometries, we demonstrate spatially distinct cargo pick-up and unload by "molecular shuttles" in an integrated device. With this approach, applications can be realized where motor-driven processes are needed to enable transport and active sorting of analytes and nanosystems, or the reconfiguration or self-repair of materials and devices.
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