Nano-submarine powered by molecular motors

Rice University researchers have made major breakthroughs in nanotechnology and may one day change the world without exaggeration. The research team has created micro-sized nano submarines that are driven by molecular motors that provide energy to move in solution at unprecedented speeds. At present, this technology is still in the initial stage of development, but the "molecular motors" carried by these nano submarines may eventually be one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in modern history.

The Nano submarine developed by Rice University consists of only one molecule, 244 atoms. Their ultraviolet photodynamic engine rotates at more than 1 million revolutions per second, and the tail thruster pushes the submarine to advance at 18 nanometers per second, which is less than 1 inch per second. Considering the microscopic dimensions, this is indeed an astonishing Speed, which is the fastest moving molecule in solution ever.

According to scientists, their research proves that these unique molecular motors are powerful enough to push nanometer submarines forward in solutions of the same molecular composition. This is similar to the fact that when a person walks through a basketball court, there are 1,000 people who throw a basketball at the same time. .

The motor operates more like a bacterial flagellum and completes each driving process in four steps. The driving process includes light excitation, and the double-button saves the rotor body into a single key, allowing it to rotate a quarter. As the motor tries to return to a lower energy state, it jumps to the neighboring atom to complete another quarter-turn rotation. Repeat this process to drive the nano submarine forward.

The study has taken a big step forward in providing targeted drug treatment for human blood. Drugs can be sent via these nano submarines to specific cells in the blood or organs.