Biomaterial Database

Carbon-nanotube-induced acceleration of catalytic nanomotors. 2008

Rawiwan Laocharoensuk, and Jared Burdick, and Joseph Wang

Biodesign Institute, Department of Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.

Synthetic nanoscale motors represent a major step toward the development of practical nanomachines. Despite impressive progress, man-made nanomachines lack the efficiency and speed of their biological counterparts. Here we show that the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNT) into the platinum (Pt) component of asymmetric metal nanowire motors leads to dramatically accelerated movement in hydrogen-peroxide solutions, with average speeds (50-60 microm/s) approaching those of natural biomolecular motors. Further acceleration to 94 microm/s, with some motors moving above 200 microm/sis observed upon adding hydrazine to the peroxide fuel. Factors influencing the accelerated movement, including the CNT loading and fuel concentration, are examined. Such development of highly efficient and controllable nanomotors offers great promise for self-powered nanoscale transport and delivery systems.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008422	Materials Testing	The testing of materials and devices, especially those used for PROSTHESES AND IMPLANTS; SUTURES; TISSUE ADHESIVES; etc., for hardness, strength, durability, safety, efficacy, and biocompatibility.	Biocompatibility Testing,Biocompatible Materials Testing,Hemocompatibility Testing,Testing, Biocompatible Materials,Testing, Hemocompatible Materials,Hemocompatibility Testings,Hemocompatible Materials Testing,Materials Testing, Biocompatible,Materials Testing, Hemocompatible,Testing, Biocompatibility,Testing, Hemocompatibility,Testing, Materials,Testings, Biocompatibility
D008968	Molecular Conformation	The characteristic three-dimensional shape of a molecule.	Molecular Configuration,3D Molecular Structure,Configuration, Molecular,Molecular Structure, Three Dimensional,Three Dimensional Molecular Structure,3D Molecular Structures,Configurations, Molecular,Conformation, Molecular,Conformations, Molecular,Molecular Configurations,Molecular Conformations,Molecular Structure, 3D,Molecular Structures, 3D,Structure, 3D Molecular,Structures, 3D Molecular
D009038	Motion	Physical motion, i.e., a change in position of a body or subject as a result of an external force. It is distinguished from MOVEMENT, a process resulting from biological activity.	Motions
D010316	Particle Size	Relating to the size of solids.	Particle Sizes,Size, Particle,Sizes, Particle
D002384	Catalysis	The facilitation of a chemical reaction by material (catalyst) that is not consumed by the reaction.	Catalyses
D000054	Acceleration	An increase in the rate of speed.	Accelerations
D013499	Surface Properties	Characteristics or attributes of the outer boundaries of objects, including molecules.	Properties, Surface,Property, Surface,Surface Property
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular
D036103	Nanotechnology	The development and use of techniques to study physical phenomena and construct structures in the nanoscale size range or smaller.	Nanotechnologies
D037742	Nanotubes, Carbon	Nanometer-sized tubes composed mainly of CARBON. Such nanotubes are used as probes for high-resolution structural and chemical imaging of biomolecules with ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY.	Buckytubes,Carbon Nanotubes,Nanoribbons,Buckytube,Carbon Nanotube,Nanoribbon,Nanotube, Carbon