journal article·2025-08Open access

Collective Dynamics of Urease‐Based Nanomotors in a Chemical Gradient

Jinwei Lin, Shuqin Chen, Florencia Lezcano, Zhengshang Li, Leilei Xu, Jianguo Guan, Samuel Sánchez

Small· Volume 21· Issue 31

Abstract

Abstract Gradients are widespread in nature, including within the human body, making the study of nanomotors’ collective dynamics in gradients crucial to advancing biomedical applications and deepening the understanding of natural active matters. However, the comprehensive understanding of nanomotors’ collective dynamics under gradients remains underexplored, particularly. This study employs urease‐based nanomotors (UrNMs) as a model system to explore their collective dynamics within a urea gradient, revealing three fundamental principles that govern their behavior: density‐driven convection, UrNMs’ response to the urea gradient, and a coupling effect between UrNMs and their environment. Initially, migration is dominated by convection‐induced motion arising from the steep gradient. As convection gradually diminishes, UrNMs' positive response to the urea gradient becomes the dominant factor governing their migration. Notably, the coupling effect between nanomotors and the gel, plays a crucial role in the migration process. This coupling effect arises from hydrogen bonding between product anions and the gel, which generates ionic gradients. The dominant influence of electric force is validated by pH‐controlled experiments. These insights advance the fundamental understanding of gradient‐responsive nanomotor behavior and offer inspiration for the design of intelligent, environment‐sensitive active systems.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Micro and Nano Robotics · Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials · Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) Carrer de Baldiri i Reixac, 10–12 Barcelona 08028 Spain

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing International School of Materials Science and Engineering Wuhan University of Technology Wuhan 430070 China

Faculty of Physics University of Barcelona Martí i Franquès 1 Barcelona 08028 Spain

Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) Passeig de Lluís Companys, 23 Barcelona 08010 Spain

Funding

Agencia Estatal de Investigación · China Scholarship Council · Generalitat de Catalunya · European Research Council

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