fig5

Stomatocytes as multifunctional therapeutic vehicles: opportunities and challenges for next generation nanomedicine

Figure 5. Schematic illustration of stomatocyte-based nanomotors and their propulsion mechanisms. Stomatocytes can encapsulate catalytic components, including Pt or MnO2 nanoparticles and enzymes such as catalase or urease, to generate chemically driven propulsion. Alternatively, surface functionalization with Pt nanoparticles enables bubble-driven motion, while Au nanoparticles or a hemispherical Au coating can confer light-driven propulsion. Combining catalytic nanoparticles or Au-based components with enzymes within a single stomatocyte enables multimodal propulsion. Pt NP: Platinum nanoparticle; Au NP: Gold nanoparticle; MnO2 NP: Manganese dioxide nanoparticle.