New benefit of chemical signaling

In one discovery, it could create controlled movements in future nano machines used for drug delivery, fuel cells and other applications. Researchers in Pennsylvania say chemical signaling between synthetic microcapsules can create and control the movement of these capsules.

Synthetic capsule researchers can communicate with each other by moving chemical signals naturally from one capsule to another, like transferring the water methodically one by one. . Scientists have previously suggested that the same signaling process also seems to be able to send signals to control cell movement.

In this new study, Anna C. Balazs and colleagues used computer models to simulate chemical signaling.

They modeled a polymer micro capsule with tiny holes filled with nanoparticles to mimic a biological cell. When placed next to an empty capsule, the nanoparticles from the capsule are full, making the capsule empty, and thereby creating a ' signaling ' capsule.

The same motion process can be used to make nano machines in the future that can help control their movement through the body or fuel cells.

Scientists say the chemical signaling between microcapsules can make the movement of drug capsules, a finding capable of supporting nanoparticles in drug transport as well as many applications. other.(Photo: O. Berk Usta)