Multifunctional Silver-Exchanged Zeolite Micromotors for Catalytic Detoxification of Chemical and Biological Threats

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2015-04, Vol.25 (14), p.2147-2155
• Main Authors: Singh, Virendra V., Jurado-Sánchez, Beatriz, Sattayasamitsathit, Sirilak, Orozco, Jahir, Li, Jinxing, Galarnyk, Michael, Fedorak, Yuri, Wang, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Bacteria; Biological; biological threat; Catalysis; Catalysts; chemical warfare agents; decontamination; Economics; Killing; Micromotors; silver-exchanged zeolite; Zeolites
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201500033

Multifunctional reactive‐zeolite‐based micromotors have been developed and characterized toward effective and rapid elimination of chemical and biological threats. The incorporation of silver ions (Ag+) into aluminosilicate zeolite framework imparts several attractive functions, including strong binding to chemical warfare agents (CWA) followed by effective degradation, and enhanced antibacterial activity. The new zeolite‐micromotors protocol thus combines the remarkable adsorption capacity of zeolites and the efficient catalytic properties of the reactive Ag+ ions with the autonomous movement of the zeolite micromotors for an accelerated detoxification of CWA. Furthermore, the high antibacterial activity of Ag+ along with the rapid micromotor movement enhances the contact between bacteria and reactive Ag+, leading to a powerful “on‐the‐fly” bacteria killing capacity. These attractive adsorptive/catalytic features of the self‐propelled zeolite micromotors eliminate secondary environmental contamination compared to adsorptive micromotors. The distinct cubic geometry of the zeolite micromotors leads to enhanced bubble generation and faster movement, in unique movement trajectories, which increases the fluid convection and highly efficient detoxification of CWA and killing of bacteria. The attractive capabilities of these zeolite micromotors will pave the way for their diverse applications in defense, environmental and biomedical applications in more economical and sustainable manner. Multifunctional reactive‐zeolite micromotors that combine the remarkable adsorption capacity of zeolites with the efficient catalytic properties of reactive Ag+ and the effective movement for accelerated “on‐the‐fly” detoxification of chemical and biological threats are described. The attractive capabilities of these self‐propelled zeolite micromotors pave the way for their diverse applications in defense and environmental applications in a more economical and sustainable manner.