Visible-Light-Driven Janus Microvehicles in Biological Media

Abstract

A light-driven multifunctional Janus micromotor for the removal of bacterial endotoxins and heavy metals is described. The micromotor was assembled by using the biocompatible polymer polycaprolactone for the encapsulation of CdTe or CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) as photoactive materials and an asymmetric Fe₃ O₄ patch for propulsion. The micromotors can be activated with visible light (470-490 nm) to propel in peroxide or glucose media by a diffusiophoretic mechanism. Efficient propulsion was observed for the first time in complex samples such as human blood serum. These properties were exploited for efficient endotoxin removal using lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli O111:B4 as a model toxin. The micromotors were also used for mercury removal by cationic exchange with the CdSe@ZnS core-shell QDs. Cytotoxicity assays in HeLa cell lines demonstrated the high biocompatibility of the micromotors for future detoxification applications.

Keywords: detoxification; heavy metals; micromotors; toxins; visible light.