Photocurable polymer-based tubular micromotors: advancing toward life science applications

Micromotors-micrometer-scale objects capable of autonomous motion in aqueous environments-have emerged as promising tools in microtechnology and microrobotics. Among their structural variants, hollow tubular architectures are particularly attractive due to their multifunctional surfaces. A key challenge lies in advancing their practical application in life sciences. This review highlights recent progress in photocurable polymer-based tubular micromotors. Acrylic-resin tubes incorporating platinum nanoparticles (Pt tubes) were fabricated through a template-assisted process combining photopolymerization with wet layer-by-layer assembly. Protein-functionalized Pt tubes are propelled in H₂O₂ solutions via O₂ bubble generation, while catalase-modified tubes exhibit light-tunable propulsion. Remarkably, Pt tubes also self-propel in aqueous ammonia borane (NH₃BH₃) through H₂ bubble release, enabling lectin-coated micromotors to capture live cells without damage. Moreover, urease-driven tubes wrapped with doxorubicin-loaded liposomes demonstrate efficient anticancer activity under near-infrared irradiation. These findings underscore the potential of photocurable polymer-based tubular micromotors as versatile platforms for future biological and biomedical applications.