Cooperative Rotation of Multiple F <sub>o</sub> F <sub>1</sub> ‐ATPase Motors in a Janus Photophosphorylation Nanobot

Inspired by the precise collective action of biological motors, we here develop asymmetric photophosphorylation nanobots through the hierarchical co-assembly of thylakoid vesicles and lecithin liposomes. This approach yields anisotropic vesicles that preserve robust photophosphorylation capacity activity while integrating multiple F<sub>o</sub>F<sub>1</sub>-ATPase motors into a spatially organized nanoarchitecture. Upon light illumination, proton gradients drive ATP synthesis and trigger synchronized rotation of the embedded motors, leading to emergent vortex flows that enable efficient nanobot propulsion. Importantly, the propulsion velocity exhibits a linear dependence on motor number, providing direct evidence of force amplification through motor coordination. Hydrodynamic simulations further reveal that increased motor density strengthens inter-motor coupling via a single-vortex collective mode. By emulating the fundamental principles of biological motor cooperation through rational supramolecular design, this platform offers a powerful framework for achieving life-like, programmable motion at the microscale, with significant potential for applications in active cargo delivery and adaptive biomimetic robotic systems.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Small
Published
2026-01-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202512963
Primary Topic
Micro and Nano Robotics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Cooperative Rotation of Multiple F o F 1 ‐ATPase Motors in a Janus Photophosphorylation Nanobot

Yanfang Li, Yun Huang, Qizhi He, Yingjie Wu et al.
Small
Micro and Nano Robotics
article

Cooperative Rotation of Multiple F o F 1 ‐ATPase Motors in a Janus Photophosphorylation Nanobot

Yanfang Li, Yun Huang, Qizhi He, Yingjie Wu, Mingjun Xuan
article en

Abstract

Inspired by the precise collective action of biological motors, we here develop asymmetric photophosphorylation nanobots through the hierarchical co-assembly of thylakoid vesicles and lecithin liposomes. This approach yields anisotropic vesicles that preserve robust photophosphorylation capacity activity while integrating multiple F<sub>o</sub>F<sub>1</sub>-ATPase motors into a spatially organized nanoarchitecture. Upon light illumination, proton gradients drive ATP synthesis and trigger synchronized rotation of the embedded motors, leading to emergent vortex flows that enable efficient nanobot propulsion. Importantly, the propulsion velocity exhibits a linear dependence on motor number, providing direct evidence of force amplification through motor coordination. Hydrodynamic simulations further reveal that increased motor density strengthens inter-motor coupling via a single-vortex collective mode. By emulating the fundamental principles of biological motor cooperation through rational supramolecular design, this platform offers a powerful framework for achieving life-like, programmable motion at the microscale, with significant potential for applications in active cargo delivery and adaptive biomimetic robotic systems.

SmallVol. 22(13)
Wenzhou University (CN), Harbin Institute of Technology (CN), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou Institute of Biomaterials and Engineering
Openalex Percentile: Top 86%
Micro and Nano Robotics
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.