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Dual enzyme-powered chemotactic cross β amyloid based functional nanomotors
Chandranath Ghosh1, Souvik Ghosh1, Ayan Chatterjee1
1Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
Nature Communications
|September 22, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed novel nanomotors from amyloid peptides, called amylobots. These bio-nanomachines use enzymes for propulsion and navigation, showing potential for advanced biomedical applications and enhanced catalysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biocatalysis
Background:
- Biological nanomotors offer future biomedical applications.
- Amyloid peptides can serve as scaffolds for nanomotor construction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create cross β amyloid peptide-based nanomotors (amylobots).
- To utilize enzymes for motility and navigation in these nanomotors.
- To explore their potential in enhanced catalysis.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of nanomotors from short amyloid peptides.
- Immobilization of urease for propulsion and cytochrome C for navigation.
- Utilizing simulation models to understand enzyme-driven transport behaviors.
Main Results:
- Amylobots demonstrated self-diffusiophoretic motion powered by urease.
- Cytochrome C enabled chemotactic navigation towards its substrate.
- Enzyme-enhanced diffusivity and chemotaxis were observed with varying substrate concentrations.
- Dual catalytic engines facilitated enhanced catalysis in organic solvents.
Conclusions:
- Amylobots represent a novel class of bio-inspired nanomachines.
- Enzyme integration allows for controlled motility and navigation.
- These nanomotors show promise for advanced catalytic applications in organic media.
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