Nanomotor
Encyclopedia
A nanomotor is a molecular device capable of converting energy into movement. It can typically generate force
s on the order of piconewtons.
A proposed branch of research is the integration of molecular motor proteins found in living cells into molecular motors implanted in artificial devices. Such a motor protein would be able to move a "cargo" within that device, via protein dynamics, similarly to how kinesin
moves various molecules along tracks of microtubules inside cells.
Starting and stopping the movement of such motor proteins would involve caging the ATP
in molecular structures sensitive to UV light. Pulses of UV illumination would thus provide pulses of movement. Nanomotors have also been made using synthetic materials and chemical methods.
has been developed in 2003 by the group of Alex Zettl
at UC Berkeley
.
Researchers led by Joseph Wang
have made a breakthrough development in 2008 by making a new generation of fuel-driven catalytic nanomotors that are up to 10 times more powerful than existing nanomachines . It is a major step forward to a practical energy source for powering tomorrow's nanomachines.
Force
In physics, a force is any influence that causes an object to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. In other words, a force is that which can cause an object with mass to change its velocity , i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform...
s on the order of piconewtons.
A proposed branch of research is the integration of molecular motor proteins found in living cells into molecular motors implanted in artificial devices. Such a motor protein would be able to move a "cargo" within that device, via protein dynamics, similarly to how kinesin
Kinesin
A kinesin is a protein belonging to a class of motor proteins found in eukaryotic cells. Kinesins move along microtubule filaments, and are powered by the hydrolysis of ATP . The active movement of kinesins supports several cellular functions including mitosis, meiosis and transport of cellular...
moves various molecules along tracks of microtubules inside cells.
Starting and stopping the movement of such motor proteins would involve caging the ATP
Adenosine triphosphate
Adenosine-5'-triphosphate is a multifunctional nucleoside triphosphate used in cells as a coenzyme. It is often called the "molecular unit of currency" of intracellular energy transfer. ATP transports chemical energy within cells for metabolism...
in molecular structures sensitive to UV light. Pulses of UV illumination would thus provide pulses of movement. Nanomotors have also been made using synthetic materials and chemical methods.
Nanotube nanomotor
The first Nanotube nanomotorNanotube nanomotor
A device generating linear or rotational motion using carbon nanotube as the primary component, is termed a nanotube nanomotor. Nature already has some of the most efficient and powerful kinds of nanomotors. Some of these natural biological nanomotors have been re-engineered to serve desired purposes...
has been developed in 2003 by the group of Alex Zettl
Alex Zettl
Alex Zettl is an American professor of experimental condensed-matter physics. His research involving the properties of novel materials have produced significant advances in the field.-Biography:...
at UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Researchers led by Joseph Wang
Joseph Wang
Joseph Wang is a professor of Nanoengineering at the University of California, San Diego specializing in biosensors, nanosensors, nanomachines and electrochemistry. Wang's research group has built the fastest nanomotors to date.-Biography:...
have made a breakthrough development in 2008 by making a new generation of fuel-driven catalytic nanomotors that are up to 10 times more powerful than existing nanomachines . It is a major step forward to a practical energy source for powering tomorrow's nanomachines.
See also
- Carbon nanotubeCarbon nanotubeCarbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure. Nanotubes have been constructed with length-to-diameter ratio of up to 132,000,000:1, significantly larger than for any other material...
- Electrostatic motorElectrostatic motorAn electrostatic motor or capacitor motor is a type of electric motor based on the attraction and repulsion of electric charge.Often, electrostatic motors are the dual of conventional coil-based motors. They typically require a high voltage power supply, although very small motors employ lower...
- Molecular motor
- NanocarNanocarThe nanocar is a molecule designed in 2005 at Rice University by a group headed by Professor James Tour. Despite the name, the original nanocar does not contain a molecular motor, hence, it is not really a car...
- NanomechanicsNanomechanicsNanomechanics is a branch of nanoscience studying fundamental mechanical properties of physical systems at the nanometer scale. Nanomechanics has emerged on the crossroads of classical mechanics, solid-state physics, statistical mechanics, materials science, and quantum chemistry...
- Protein dynamics
- Synthetic molecular motorsSynthetic molecular motorsSynthetic molecular motors are molecular machines capable of rotation under energy input. Although the term "molecular motor" has traditionally referred to a naturally occurring protein that induces motion , some groups also use the term when referring to non-biological, non-peptide synthetic...
External links
- Berkeley.edu – Physicists build world's smallest motor
- Nanotube Nanomotor research project