Powering bioanalytical applications in biomedicine with light-responsive Janus micro-/nanomotors

Mikrochim Acta. 2022 Feb 23;189(3):116. doi: 10.1007/s00604-022-05229-1.

Abstract

Possessing both unique asymmetric structures and remote-controlled active movement, light-responsive Janus micro-/nanomotors offer the possibility of breaking through the limitations of traditional biomedicine, and have fascinated and inspired researchers. Despite many obstacles toward the clinical application, impressive progress of light-responsive Janus micro-/nanomotors for bioanalytical applications has been made over the past decades. In this review, we first briefly introduced several main light-driven Janus micro-/nanomotors, then focused on their typical bioanalytical applications such as biosensing, bioimaging, and theranostic. In the end, we summarized the remaining challenges of light-responsive Janus micro-/nanomotors in the practical application and also proposed potential solutions in the future.

Keywords: Bioimaging; Biosensing; Janus particles; Optical nanomotors; Theranostic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Nanotechnology* / methods