文摘
We demonstrate an attractive nanomachine 鈥渃apture and transport鈥?target isolation strategy based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). MIP-based catalytic microtubular engines are prepared by electropolymerization of the outer polymeric layer in the presence of the target analyte (template). Tailor-made selective artificial recognition sites are thus introduced into the tubular microtransporters through complementary nanocavities in the outer polymeric layer. The new microtransporter concept is illustrated using bilayer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/Pt鈥揘i microengines and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled avidin (Av-FITC) as the template. The avidin-imprinted polymeric layer selectively concentrates the fluorescent-tagged protein target onto the moving microengine without the need for additional external functionalization, allowing 鈥渙n-the-fly鈥?extraction and isolation of Av-FITC from raw serum and saliva samples along with real-time visualization of the protein loading and transport. The new micromachine鈥揗IP-based target isolation strategy can be extended to the capture and transport of other important target molecules, leading toward diverse biomedical and environmental applications.