"The engine of a microscopic motor can be coupled or uncoupled from the rotor by means of DNA coatings that respond to a variety of stimuli.
Microscopic motors can be carefully controlled thanks to the inclusion of programmable DNA strands.
A basic motor consists of an engine and a revolving part called a rotor. In many motors, these two components can be selectively connected or disconnected from each other for control, safety and convenience. However, in nanometre-scale motors, the engine typically needs to be permanently linked to the rotor, preventing this capability.
Mouhong Lin at the Institute for Basic Science Center for Nanomedicine in Seoul and his colleagues have developed a nanomotor that overcomes this limitation. In their device, the engine is a magnetic gold particle that is powered by remote magnetic fields, and the rotor is a porous, spherical gold cage that confines the particle. The engine and the rotor are coated with programmable DNA , which acts as a ‘clutch’, connecting or disconnecting the two components from each other when it recognizes particular molecular inputs.
The researchers say that their nanomotor is straightforward to manufacture and could have medical applications." [1]
1. Nature 626, 695 (2024)
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