Recent progress in enzyme-driven micro/nanoswimmers: From fundamentals to potential applications

Recent progress in the field of enzyme-powered micro/nanoswimmers is summarized and discussed, covering different theoretical and mechanistic aspects, as well as potential applications. This is motivated by the increasing number of reports focusing on the design of biocompatible systems, able to move in complex environments and their potential use for biomedical applications. Motion is achieved by enzymatic reactions, enabling bubble-propulsion and self-diffusiophoretic or self-electrophoretic displacement. Single- and multipleenzyme-powered micro/nanoswimmers are presented as interesting and original systems for cargo delivery, the detection of various analytes and the biodegradation of complex organic molecules.

Automated summary

This article summarizes and discusses recent progress in the field of enzyme-powered micro/nanoswimmers, including different theoretical and mechanistic aspects, as well as potential applications. Enzymatic reactions enable these swimmers to achieve propulsion and displacement, making them potentially useful for cargo delivery, analyte detection, and biodegradation of organic molecules.