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Programmable MOF and COF Based Nanomotors for Environmental Remediation and Precision Biomedical Applications
Summary
Scientists have built tiny, remote-controlled "nanomotors" that can be steered with light to do useful jobs: one version swarms together to grab and remove microplastic particles from water, while others can burrow deep into tumors to deliver cancer drugs more effectively or destroy cancer cells using heat, light, and gas-based therapies. This matters because it points toward future tools that could help clean up the microplastic pollution we're increasingly exposed to through water and food, while also offering more precise, less invasive ways to treat cancer.
Micro/nanomotors (MNMs) represent a rapidly emerging class of active materials capable of converting chemical or optical energy into autonomous motion at the micro- and nanoscale. Despite significant advancements, major barriers remain before MNMs can be applied in realistic environmental or biomedical settings, including limited programmability, insufficient biological penetration, and poor coupling between activation modes and functional outputs. This thesis establishes a unified design strategy for programmable MOF- and COF-based nanomotors that integrate catalytic propulsion, optical responsiveness, structural modularity, and task-specific functionality to address these challenges across environmental remediation and cancer therapy. First, a photocontrolled ZIF-based nanomotor system was developed for targeted capture of microplastics in water. Light-mediated assembly and disassembly enabled reversible swarming, spatial patterning, and selective adsorption of microplastics, demonstrating an environmentally adaptive platform for active water decontamination. Second, a biocatalytic CAT-COL@ZIF-90 nanomotor was designed to overcome the extracellular matrix (ECM) barrier. Through catalase-driven propulsion and collagenase-mediated matrix remodeling, the nanomotors achieved enhanced tumor penetration and improved intratumoral drug delivery, establishing an effective strategy for navigating dense biological environments. Finally, a wavelength-dependent Pt@COF nanomotor was engineered to perform bidirectional phototaxis and multimodal cancer therapy. Blue light induced positive phototaxis and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, whereas red light triggered negative phototaxis and photothermal heating. These orthogonal mechanisms enabled programmable motion and three distinct therapeutic pathways—hydrogen therapy, photothermal ablation, and ROS-mediated cytotoxicity. Together, these studies demonstrate a coherent evolution of nanomotor functionality, from active environmental remediation to ECM penetration and precision cancer therapy. This work provides a generalizable blueprint for designing next-generation programmable nanomotors with enhanced controllability, adaptability, and therapeutic potential.