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Magnetically boosted 1D photoactive microswarm for COVID-19 face mask disruption

Author

Listed:
  • Jeonghyo Kim

    (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague)

  • Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez

    (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague)

  • Martin Pumera

    (University of Chemistry and Technology Prague
    VSB—Technical University of Ostrava
    Yonsei University
    China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University)

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the massive discard of pandemic-related plastic wastes, causing serious ecological harm and a high societal burden. Most single-use face masks are made of synthetic plastics, thus their careless disposal poses a direct threat to wildlife as well as potential ecotoxicological effects in the form of microplastics. Here, we introduce a 1D magnetic photoactive microswarm capable of actively navigating, adhering to, and accelerating the degradation of the polypropylene microfiber of COVID-19 face masks. 1D microrobots comprise an anisotropic magnetic core (Fe3O4) and photocatalytic shell (Bi2O3/Ag), which enable wireless magnetic maneuvering and visible-light photocatalysis. The actuation of a programmed rotating magnetic field triggers a fish schooling-like 1D microswarm that allows active interfacial interactions with the microfiber network. The follow-up light illumination accelerates the disruption of the polypropylene microfiber through the photo-oxidative process as corroborated by morphological, compositional, and structural analyses. The active magnetic photocatalyst microswarm suggests an intriguing microrobotic solution to treat various plastic wastes and other environmental pollutants.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeonghyo Kim & Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez & Martin Pumera, 2023. "Magnetically boosted 1D photoactive microswarm for COVID-19 face mask disruption," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36650-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36650-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mario Urso & Martina Ussia & Filip Novotný & Martin Pumera, 2022. "Trapping and detecting nanoplastics by MXene-derived oxide microrobots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Jayraj V. Vaghasiya & Carmen C. Mayorga-Martinez & Stanislava Matějková & Martin Pumera, 2022. "Pick up and dispose of pollutants from water via temperature-responsive micellar copolymers on magnetite nanorobots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
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