Artificial chemotaxis in micro/nanomotors

R Roshan Velluvakandy (Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic) X Xiaohui Ju (Department of Surface and Plasma Science) M Martin Pumera (Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Abstract Chemotaxis is the directional motion of objects in response to chemical gradients, a process that drives navigation in micro/nanomotors, enabling a bio-inspired transition toward autonomous direction control. However, current studies lack consistent mechanistic justification, definition, and standardized experimental validation. This review summarizes key physical principles governing active chemotaxis, surveys experimental strategies for generating chemical gradients and quantifying responses, and examines how individual chemotactic mechanisms and long-range, anisotropic chemical interactions give rise to emergent collective behaviors, while outlining prospective applications. Together, these efforts establish a principled engineering framework for advancing chemotaxis as a robust functional navigation modality in synthetic micro/nanomotors.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 17, Issue 1
Published April 25, 2026
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (3)

R

Roshan Velluvakandy

Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic

X

Xiaohui Ju

Department of Surface and Plasma Science

M

Martin Pumera

Future Energy and Innovation Laboratory, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 123, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic