About this Research Topic
Smart materials that can automatically change their own structures, properties, or local environment signals are gaining increasing attention in developing next generation of micro/nanodevices or therapeutics. Among different materials, enzymes are nature’s extremely versatile building blocks for organisms with biocompatibility and catalytic properties. Therefore, enzyme-based materials hold great potential in building smart materials that can be applied in the fields of biomedical and environmental areas, which generally require the biocompatibility of the applied materials to avoid harming to human beings or ecosystems.
Biomimetic micro/nanomotors are smart active materials capable of converting various forms of energy into mechanical forces, and as such, can possesses potential advantages in comparison to the other passive materials. Various types of enzyme-based biocompatible micro/nanomotors have been developed. Additionally, the programmable self-assembly of enzymes holds great potential to provide various complex structures and functions which can dynamically and specifically interact or yield elaborate systems, thereby fulfilling the requirements of various practical applications. Furthermore, combining enzyme or enzyme responsive properties into nano/micro materials and devices can improve their therapeutic functions through the local energy conversion or matter transformation. Therefore, further exploration of enzyme- related smart materials, including micro/nanomotors, therapeutics, and other materials with diverse applications, is urgently necessary.
In recent years, enzyme-based smart materials have been formulated according to various requirements. However, there are still many challenges remaining, such as: i, the types of enzymes that could power the micro/nanomotors are still limited; ii, a fundamental understanding of enzymatic propulsion is still necessary; iii, the chemotaxis behaviors of enzyme related micro/nanomotors still needs to be explored; iv, new method to enhance the enzyme functions through artificial modification and synthesis require further exploration; v, new method to locally activate or respond to the enzyme functions have to be developed; vi, the potential applications of enzyme related smart materials in biomedical, biomimetic or environmental fields needs further development. Hence, in this Research topic, we would like to further explore the various ability of enzymes related micro/nanomotors, therapeutics, or other smart materials, focusing on the fundamental mechanisms, novel materials, or application demonstrations in biomedical, biomimetic or environmental fields.
Relevant submissions for this Research Topic include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Design of novel enzyme-powered micro/nanomotors;
• Fundamental analysis of enzyme related smart materials using experiments or simulations;
• Biomimetic smart systems related to enzymatic reactions;
• Engineered nanozymes or polyzymes;
• Enzyme related hydrogel actuators;
• Enzyme related smart biosensors and therapeutics;
• Applications of enzyme related smart materials in biomedical, biomimetic or environmental fields.
Biomimetic micro/nanomotors are smart active materials capable of converting various forms of energy into mechanical forces, and as such, can possesses potential advantages in comparison to the other passive materials. Various types of enzyme-based biocompatible micro/nanomotors have been developed. Additionally, the programmable self-assembly of enzymes holds great potential to provide various complex structures and functions which can dynamically and specifically interact or yield elaborate systems, thereby fulfilling the requirements of various practical applications. Furthermore, combining enzyme or enzyme responsive properties into nano/micro materials and devices can improve their therapeutic functions through the local energy conversion or matter transformation. Therefore, further exploration of enzyme- related smart materials, including micro/nanomotors, therapeutics, and other materials with diverse applications, is urgently necessary.
In recent years, enzyme-based smart materials have been formulated according to various requirements. However, there are still many challenges remaining, such as: i, the types of enzymes that could power the micro/nanomotors are still limited; ii, a fundamental understanding of enzymatic propulsion is still necessary; iii, the chemotaxis behaviors of enzyme related micro/nanomotors still needs to be explored; iv, new method to enhance the enzyme functions through artificial modification and synthesis require further exploration; v, new method to locally activate or respond to the enzyme functions have to be developed; vi, the potential applications of enzyme related smart materials in biomedical, biomimetic or environmental fields needs further development. Hence, in this Research topic, we would like to further explore the various ability of enzymes related micro/nanomotors, therapeutics, or other smart materials, focusing on the fundamental mechanisms, novel materials, or application demonstrations in biomedical, biomimetic or environmental fields.
Relevant submissions for this Research Topic include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Design of novel enzyme-powered micro/nanomotors;
• Fundamental analysis of enzyme related smart materials using experiments or simulations;
• Biomimetic smart systems related to enzymatic reactions;
• Engineered nanozymes or polyzymes;
• Enzyme related hydrogel actuators;
• Enzyme related smart biosensors and therapeutics;
• Applications of enzyme related smart materials in biomedical, biomimetic or environmental fields.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
