Responsive Janus Structural Color Hydrogel Micromotors for Label-Free Multiplex Assays

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology and Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Self-propelling micromotors offer significant potential for highly sensitive analytical applications.
• Developing novel micromotors for label-free multiplex assays is crucial for enhancing detection efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and utilize novel structural color micromotors (SCMs) for label-free multiplex ion detection.
• To leverage the unique properties of SCMs, including optical coding and responsive behavior, for enhanced sensing capabilities.

Main Methods:

• SCMs were fabricated using phase separation of droplet templates, resulting in a Janus structure.
• One side of the SCMs displayed structural colors, while the other provided catalytic self-propelling functions.
• SCMs were functionalized with ion-responsive aptamers to enable colorimetric detection of ions.

Main Results:

• The developed SCMs demonstrated multiplex label-free detection of ions through optical coding and responsive color shifts.
• The autonomous motion of SCMs significantly enhanced ion-aptamer interactions, leading to improved detection sensitivity.
• The SCMs exhibited potential for sensitive and efficient detection of multiple analytes simultaneously.

Conclusions:

• Structural color micromotors offer a promising platform for advanced label-free multiplex assays.
• The integration of self-propulsion and optical responsiveness in SCMs enhances analytical performance.
• SCMs have the potential to significantly advance multiplex assay technologies and biomedical field applications.