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Autonomous movement of platinum-loaded stomatocytes

Nature Chemistry volume 4, pages 268–274 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Polymer stomatocytes are bowl-shaped structures of nanosize dimensions formed by the controlled deformation of polymer vesicles. The stable nanocavity and strict control of the opening are ideal for the physical entrapment of nanoparticles which, when catalytically active, can turn the stomatocyte morphology into a nanoreactor. Herein we report an approach to generate autonomous movement of the polymer stomatocytes by selectively entrapping catalytically active platinum nanoparticles within their nanocavities and subsequently using catalysis as a driving force for movement. Hydrogen peroxide is free to access the inner stomatocyte cavity, where it is decomposed by the active catalyst (the entrapped platinum nanoparticles) into oxygen and water. This generates a rapid discharge, which induces thrust and directional movement. The design of the platinum-loaded stomatocytes resembles a miniature monopropellant rocket engine, in which the controlled opening of the stomatocytes directs the expulsion of the decomposition products away from the reaction chamber (inner stomatocyte cavity).

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Figure 1: Design of the supramolecular nanomotor.
Figure 2: Shape transformations of polymersomes assembled from PEG–PS into stomatocytes with controlled opening.
Figure 3: Controlled platinum catalyst entrapment.
Figure 4: Directional movements of the PtNP-containing stomatocytes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO/CW) under the VICI-project ‘Kinetically controlled peptide–polymer artificial organelles’. D.A.W. and R.J.M.N. acknowledge financial support from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Science. The authors thank M. Ware, A. Siupa and J. Sullivan from the Nanosight Company for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen, 6525 AJ, The Netherlands

    Daniela A. Wilson, Roeland J. M. Nolte & Jan C. M. van Hest

Authors
  1. Daniela A. Wilson
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  2. Roeland J. M. Nolte
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  3. Jan C. M. van Hest
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Contributions

D.A.W., J.C.M.v.H. and R.J.M.N. conceived and designed the experiments. D.A.W. performed the experiments.

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Correspondence to Daniela A. Wilson or Jan C. M. van Hest.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Wilson, D., Nolte, R. & van Hest, J. Autonomous movement of platinum-loaded stomatocytes. Nature Chem 4, 268–274 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1281

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