Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
08:00

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Published on: October 25, 2017

Self-propelled nanotools.

Alexander A Solovev1, Wang Xi, David H Gracias

  • 1Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, IFW Dresden, Helmholtzstrasse 20, D-01069 Dresden, Germany.

ACS Nano
|January 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Toward autonomous robotic-assisted and microrobotic surgery.

Science advances·2026
Same author

A Fixed-Charge Interphase Synchronizes Ion Transport to Suppress Space-Charge-Driven Inefficiency Under Nanoliter Confinement.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Thin-Film-Engineered Self-Assembly of 3D Coaxial Microfluidics with a Tunable Polyimide Membrane for Bioelectronic Power.

Nano-micro letters·2026
Same author

A bioinspired microdevice unifying energy storage and actuation through hydration control.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Low-Density InGaAs/AlGaAs Quantum Dots in Droplet-Etched Nanoholes.

Nano letters·2026
Same author

3D Neuromodulation in Neural Organoids with Shell MEAs.

Advanced healthcare materials·2026
Same journal

Vertically Stacked Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide-Based Three-Dimensional Integrated Circuits.

ACS nano·2026
Same journal

Tunable Nanoparticle Thin-Film Reveals Distance Dependence of Auger-Mediated Radiation Enhancement in Diffuse Midline Glioma.

ACS nano·2026
Same journal

G-Quadruplex Network Engineering in Ionogels: Realizing Robust Biosensing Interfaces for Plant Electrophysiology.

ACS nano·2026
Same journal

Announcing the 2026 <i>ACS Nano</i> Lectureship and <i>ACS Nano</i> Impact Award Laureates.

ACS nano·2026
Same journal

Ultrafast Self-Assembly of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 Enables Antibody Orientation for Ultrasensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassays.

ACS nano·2026
Same journal

Interfacial Salt Engineering with Alkali and Ammonium Additives for Stable Pure-Blue Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes and Micropatterned Displays.

ACS nano·2026
See all related articles

We developed catalytic nanotubes that self-propel in solutions, enabling cargo transport and drilling into biomaterials. Their shape dictates motion, offering control for nanoscale applications.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology and Materials Science
  • Catalysis and Chemical Propulsion

Background:

  • Development of autonomous nanoscale devices is crucial for advanced applications.
  • Catalytic propulsion offers a method for generating directed motion in micro/nanoscale systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the design and motion of catalytically self-propelled semiconductor nanotubes.
  • To investigate the influence of tube morphology on propulsion and functionality.
  • To demonstrate the potential of these nanotubes for nanoscale tasks.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of rolled-up InGaAs/GaAs/(Cr)Pt nanotubes with controlled diameters (280-600 nm).
  • Observation of nanotube motion in hydrogen peroxide solutions.
  • Analysis of propulsion mechanisms and trajectory based on tube geometry.

More Related Videos

Folding and Characterization of a Bio-responsive Robot from DNA Origami
07:59

Folding and Characterization of a Bio-responsive Robot from DNA Origami

Published on: December 3, 2015

Preparation and 3D Tracking of Catalytic Swimming Devices
06:50

Preparation and 3D Tracking of Catalytic Swimming Devices

Published on: July 1, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
08:00

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Published on: October 25, 2017

Folding and Characterization of a Bio-responsive Robot from DNA Origami
07:59

Folding and Characterization of a Bio-responsive Robot from DNA Origami

Published on: December 3, 2015

Preparation and 3D Tracking of Catalytic Swimming Devices
06:50

Preparation and 3D Tracking of Catalytic Swimming Devices

Published on: July 1, 2016

Main Results:

  • Nanotubes achieved propulsion speeds up to 180 μm s⁻¹.
  • Cylindrical tubes exhibited straight-line motion, while asymmetric tubes moved in a corkscrew-like trajectory.
  • Demonstrated cargo transport capabilities and self-embedding into biomaterials.

Conclusions:

  • Catalytic self-propulsion effectively converts chemical energy into directed nanoscale motion.
  • Tube shape and asymmetry are critical parameters for controlling nanotube trajectory and function.
  • These findings enable the design of shape-controlled nanomachines for targeted applications.