Research Seminar - Dr. Igor Aronson (Penn State) - Sep 24, 2024
Are you interested in learning how swarming nanomotors can revolutionize the future of medical technology?
When: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 10:30 AM
Where: Chemical Engineering Amphitheater IQ-004, University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez
Title: Swarming enzymatic nanomotors: enhanced diffusion and drug delivery
Speaker: Dr. Igor Aronson, Huck Chair and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University
Enzymatic nanomotors harvest kinetic energy through the catalysis of chemical fuels. When a drop containing nanomotors is placed in a fuel-rich environment, they assemble into ordered groups and exhibit intriguing swarming behaviour akin to the self-organization observed in bacterial colonies, bioconvection of aerobic microorganismal suspensions, and the coordinated movements of fish, ants, and birds. This swarming behaviour presents numerous advantages compared to individual nanomotors, including expanded coverage and prolonged propulsion duration. However, the physical mechanisms underlying the swarming have yet to be fully elucidated. We investigate the formation of enzymatic swarms using experimental analysis and computational modeling. We show that the directional movement of enzymatic nanomotor swarms is due to their solutal buoyancy. We investigate various factors that impact the movement of nanomotor swarms, such as particle concentration, fuel concentration, fuel viscosity, and vertical confinement. We examine the effects of these factors on swarm self-organization to gain a deeper understanding. In addition, the urease catalysis reaction produces ammonia and carbon dioxide, accelerating the directional movement of active swarms in urea compared with passive ones in the same conditions. The numerical analysis agrees with the experimental findings. Our findings are crucial for the potential biomedical applications of enzymatic nanomotor swarms, ranging from enhanced diffusion in bio-fluids and targeted delivery to high-efficiency cancer therapy.
Dr. Igor Aronson
Huck Chair and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University
Short Bio: Dr. Igor Aronson holds the prestigious Huck Chair at Penn State University, where he is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering. With a Ph.D. in Physics from Gorky State University, Dr. Aronson has established an illustrious academic and research career, encompassing a wide range of disciplines. He has held key positions at renowned institutions such as Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University and has been honored with numerous awards, including the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award and being named a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Dr. Aronson's research specializes in active bio-inspired materials, with a focus on computational modeling, bacterial motility, and the behavior of synthetic nanomotors. His interdisciplinary approach seamlessly integrates theoretical work, experimental methods, and simulations, advancing both innovation and understanding in his field. He has authored approximately 300 peer-reviewed publications, and his research has been cited over 19,000 times, underscoring the profound influence of his contributions. In this seminar, Dr. Aronson will present his pioneering research on collective dynamics in active matter systems, offering a unique perspective that bridges the fields of physics, biology, and engineering.
