Self‐Propelling Macroscale Sheets Powered by Enzyme Pumps
[2];
[2];
[4]
- Department of Chemistry The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA-16802 USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA-15260 USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA-16802 USA
- Department of Chemistry The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA-16802 USA, Department of Chemical Engineering The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA-16802 USA
Abstract Nanoscale enzymes anchored to surfaces act as chemical pumps by converting chemical energy released from enzymatic reactions into spontaneous fluid flow that propels entrained nano‐ and microparticles. Enzymatic pumps are biocompatible, highly selective, and display unique substrate specificity. Utilizing these pumps to trigger self‐propelled motion on the macroscale has, however, constituted a significant challenge and thus prevented their adaptation in macroscopic fluidic devices and soft robotics. Using experiments and simulations, we herein show that enzymatic pumps can drive centimeter‐scale polymer sheets along directed linear paths and rotational trajectories. In these studies, the sheets are confined to the air/water interface. With the addition of appropriate substrate, the asymmetric enzymatic coating on the sheets induces chemically driven, buoyancy flows that controllably propel the sheet's motion on the air/water interface. The directionality and speed of the motion can be tailored by changing the pattern of the enzymatic coating, type of enzyme, and nature and concentration of the substrate. This work highlights the utility of biocompatible enzymes for generating motion in macroscale fluidic devices and robotics and indicates their potential utility for in vivo applications.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NONE; FG02-90ER45438; SC0020964
- OSTI ID:
- 2267606
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 2275025
- Journal Information:
- Angewandte Chemie, Journal Name: Angewandte Chemie Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 136; ISSN 0044-8249
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- Germany
- Language:
- English
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