Synthetic nanorobots, or microrobots, have garnered significant attention in recent years for their potential applications in the fields of environmental and biomedical engineering. These tiny machines can be designed to perform a wide range of tasks, from removing pollutants from the environment to delivering drugs directly to diseased cells in the body. In the field of environmental engineering, nanorobots can be used to remove harmful pollutants from the air, water, and soil. For example, nanorobots can be designed to selectively bind with and remove heavy metals or other toxic chemicals from contaminated water sources. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we clean up polluted sites and protect our natural resources. In the field of biomedical engineering, nanorobots offer tremendous potential for drug delivery and targeted therapy. By designing nanorobots that can travel through the body and selectively target cancer cells, for example, we can potentially deliver highly effective treatments with fewer side effects. Additionally, nanorobots can be used to monitor and diagnose diseases, detect pathogens in the environment, and even help with tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The field of synthetic nano/microrobots is still in its early stages, and despite its great progress, there are several challenges and limitations that researchers are currently facing including limited mobility, communication with each other or with a central control system to coordinate their actions, fabrication procedure, material limitation and safety. These challenges need to be addressed before these tiny machines can be widely used.
In this regard, we have focused on developing programmable functional microrobots for environmental and biomedical applications. By using electrochemical triggers,[4,5] we have created microrobots that are capable of intelligent capsulation, self-navigation, and controlled release of substances. Our proof-of-concept projects have shown that these robots have the potential to revolutionize decontamination processes, resulting in more efficient remediation protocols with lower costs and shorter clean-up times.[6-9] Additionally, we have demonstrated that these robots can respond to chemical environments and even interact with each other.[10] More recently we have demonstrated the mineralization of Bisphenol A to CO2 and H2O using visible light-driven magnetic MXene-based microrobots.[11]
We believe that the development of synthetic nano/microrobots that overcome the current limitation holds great promise for improving both the environment and human health. By harnessing the power of these tiny machines, we can potentially create a cleaner, healthier world for generations to come.
Microcleaners in a) blood and b) polluted waters.
References:
- Advanced Functional Materials 29, 1806696, 2018. DOI: 10.1002/ADFM.201806696.
- ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 11, 14, 13359 - 13369, 2019. DOI: 10.1021/ACSAMI.8B19408.
- Advanced Materials 31, 1806530, 2019. DOI: 10.1002/ADMA.201806530.
- 11, 18, 8825 - 8834, 2019. DOI: 10.1039/C9NR02211B.
- 16, 2002111. 2020. DOI: 10.1002/SMLL.202002111.
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition 131, 38, 13474 - 13478, 2019. DOI: 10.1002/ANIE.201906642.
- Nature Machine Intelligence 2 - 11, 711 - 718, 2020. DOI: 10.1038/S42256-020-00248-0.
- Small Methods, 2201547, 2023. https://doi-org.sabidi.urv.cat/10.1002/smtd.202201547