Polyoxometalate-directed interfacial assembly of multifunctional mesoporous polydopamine nanomotors

Abstract Polydopamine (PDA) is a versatile material known for its biocompatibility and adhesive properties, yet its intrinsic chemical inertness limits broader functional applications. Here, we report a one-pot polyoxometalate (POM)-mediated emulsion strategy for synthesizing hybrid mesoporous PDA (HMP) nanostructures with controllable anisotropic morphology and integrated functionality. Silicotungstic acid (H4SiW) directs the formation of P123/1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB)/dopamine composite micelles, simultaneously stabilizing the emulsion, modulating interfacial tension, and templating hierarchical structures. This assembly pathway enables programmable shape evolution from isotropic nanospheres to open-cavity or bowl-shaped architectures. The embedded POMs remain molecularly dispersed and chemically active within the PDA framework, which directly endows the material with enhanced antibacterial functionality. Beyond structural sophistication, these HMPs can be driven by chemical reaction, enabling their use as artificial nanomotors. As a proof-of-concept application, Pt-loaded HMPs demonstrate self-propelled motion under H2O2 fuel and effective penetration and disruption of drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. Daptomycin-loaded nanomotors achieve near-complete eradication of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. This work establishes a generalizable interfacial co-assembly approach for transforming inert PDA into multifunctional nanodevices, advancing the development of intelligent materials for biomedical and catalytic applications.