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Bubble‐Propelled Janus Gallium/Zinc Micromotors for the Active Treatment of Bacterial Infections
Author(s) -
Lin Zhihua,
Gao Changyong,
Wang Daolin,
He Qiang
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202016260
Subject(s) - biocompatibility , zinc , gallium , janus , biodegradation , materials science , janus particles , nanotechnology , coating , chemical engineering , chemistry , organic chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
We report a bubble‐propelled Janus gallium/zinc (Ga/Zn) micromotor with good biocompatibility and biodegradability for active target treatment of bacteria. The Janus Ga/Zn micromotors are fabricated by asymmetrically coating liquid metal Ga on Zn microparticles and display self‐propulsion in simulated gastroenteric acid (pH 0.5) at a speed of up to 383 μm s −1 , propelled by hydrogen bubbles generated by the zinc–acid reaction. This motion of Ga/Zn micromotors is enhanced by the Ga–Zn galvanic effect. The Ga III cations produced from the degradation of Ga/Zn micromotors serve as a built‐in antibiotic agent. The movement improves the diffusion of Ga III and results in a significant increase of the antibacterial efficiency against H. pylori , compared with passive Ga microparticles. Such Ga/Zn micromotors combine the self‐propulsion, good biocompatibility and biodegradability, and Ga‐based antibacterial properties, providing a proof of concept for the active treatment of bacterial infections.