Journal
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume 31, Issue 27, Pages -Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202101178
Keywords
biofilm eradication; doping; light‐ powered; robotics; silver; zinc oxide
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Funding
- Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Czech Republic) under ERC CZ [LL2002]
- MEYS CR [LM2018110]
- ERDF [CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_025/0007314]
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This study reports on the preparation of ZnO self-propelled micromotors by programming their morphology and motion properties through Ag doping. These micromotors show excellent light-controlled motion and can effectively remove bacterial biofilms, representing a new approach for the formulation of a new class of light-driven semiconducting self-propelled micromotors with potential environmental applications.
Bacterial biofilms are multicellular communities firmly attached to solid extracellular substrates. They are considered the primary cause of huge economic losses, from medicine due to medical implants' failure to large infrastructure due to enhanced pipe corrosion. Therefore, their eradication is highly desirable. Here, the preparation of ZnO self-propelled micromotors is reported, programming their morphology and motion properties through Ag doping. The ZnO:Ag micromotors actively move upon light irradiation via a self-electrophoretic mechanism, showing excellent light-controlled on/off switching motion. At the same time, the rapid and effective removal of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria biofilms from the solid surface is demonstrated, exploiting the well-known antibacterial activity of both Ag and ZnO as well as the enhanced diffusion of the micromotors. The new concept for the low-cost and scalable preparation of chemically programmable Ag-doped ZnO micromotors here illustrated opens a new route toward the formulation of a new class of light-driven semiconducting self-propelled micromotors for environmental applications.
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