1. Active Micro(nano)robotic Systems
The micro/nanomotors (MNMs) or micro/nanobots are small‐scale synthetic objects based on different inorganic, organic, and biological materials that convert different sources of energy into mechanical motion by different mechanisms, for example, diffusion or electrophoresis, bubble propulsion, Marangoni effect, or/and by using external stimuli, such as light, temperature gradients, chemical triggers, electric, magnetic, and acoustic fields. These MNMs are often referred to as micro/nanoswimmers, micro/nanomachines, or micro/nanobots, and are used to perform complex tasks in microscopic fields, such as targeted drug delivery, diagnostics, chemical/biochemical sensing, energy harvesting, environmental clean-up, food security, nanofabrication, cargo transport as well as biological surgeries. The functionality and efficiently of these MNMs relies on directional motion, sensing of the local environment, and the ability to respond to external triggers. Our research activity focuses on fabrication and employment of MNMs for diverse multi-disciplinary applications.
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Micro/nanobots for environmental monitoring and water remediation
The issue of scarcity in drinking water is predicted to become more severe with time owing to limited water purification schemes and increasing anthropological activities. The need of the hour is to develop efficient water‐cleaning technologies that can provide a more energy‐efficient and cost‐effective sustainable water supply. The self-propelled micro/nanomotors (MNMs) possess the ability to significantly accelerate water decontamination process by combining with the materials’ micro/nanostructure, which provides large surface area and high reactivity. The self‐propelled MNMs can rapidly navigate through the solution or confined areas, carrying catalytic surface area or detoxifying reagents to remove or degrade persistent pollutants in a much faster fashion than that of static systems, which depend on diffusion and fluxes.
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Micro/nanobots as Intelligent Therapeutic Agents
Traditional drug delivery systems (DDS) are based on passive distribution of drugs inside the human body. The blood distributes drug molecules to the healthy cells/tissues along with the diseased ones, thereby, resulting in harmful side effects. The conventional DDS lack an accurate drug targeting and tissue penetration ability for localized release of drugs only to the diseased cells/tissues. Thus, self‐propelling MNMs hold exciting prospects to actively deliver drug therapeutics to target cells due to their motion, directional control, and tissue retention/penetration capability. The biocompatible MNMs have been used to deliver various therapeutic agents, such as genes, anti-cancer drugs, and enzymes, with high efficacy and lower toxicity.
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Soft Plant-derived Micro/nanobots
In the field of soft robotics, we explore the integration of biological plant tissue and artificial materials in the synthesis of micro/nanomotors. In particular, we take advantage of the flexible stem, leaf tendrils, pollen grains and branched roots to develop soft robotic systems composed of plant cells along with magnetic nanoparticles and hydrogels. The plant-based materials can act as scaffolds or support in the micro/nanomotors architecture. By controlling the motion of plant-based MNMs via ultrasound gradients and magnetic field, we can envision to use these motors for biomedical applications and water treatment.
