Microfreight delivered by chemical waves

We report the vectorial transport of a material object to a desired location by chemical waves generated in an excitable medium (Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction). The transportation route is determined by the excitable waves induced at a certain point on the excitable medium. This study realized direct coupling between a chemical reaction and vectorial motion; such transduction of energy is generally found in biological motility but has been difficult to achieve in artificial model systems. We discuss the future possible application of these findings to the fabrication of a chemical machine that works under the self-management of motion in response to external stimuli.