Magnetic-Propelled Janus Yeast Cell Robots Functionalized with Metal-Organic Frameworks for Mycotoxin Decontamination

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Artificial microrobots offer promising biomedical applications.
• Natural cells can be engineered into active microrobot platforms.
• Mycotoxins pose significant environmental and health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop Janus yeast cell microrobots (JYC-robots) for enhanced detoxification.
• To investigate the role of yeast cell wall in mycotoxin removal.
• To create a fuel-free, active cell-based robotics system for environmental remediation.

Main Methods:

• Asymmetric coating of yeast cells with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs).
• In situ growth of zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) on yeast cell surfaces.
• Magnetic actuation and assessment of mycotoxin (zearalenone - ZEN) decontamination efficiency.

Main Results:

• JYC-robots demonstrated efficient magnetic actuation and mycotoxin removal.
• The yeast cell wall significantly contributed to higher toxin-removal efficacy compared to fully coated yeast cells.
• JYC-robots exhibited enhanced decontamination efficiency against ZEN due to magnetic propulsion.

Conclusions:

• Janus yeast cell microrobots represent a novel platform for fuel-free propulsion and enhanced detoxification.
• The design highlights the importance of the yeast cell wall in the microrobot's remediation capabilities.
• This approach offers a new direction for developing cell-based robotics for environmental cleanup.