Self‐Propelled Multifunctional Microrobots Harboring Chiral Supramolecular Selectors for “Enantiorecognition‐on‐the‐Fly”

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Abstract
Herein, a general procedure for the synthesis of multifunctional MRs, which simultaneously exhibit i) chiral, ii) magnetic, and iii) fluorescent properties in combination with iv) self‐propulsion, is reported. Self‐propelled Ni@Pt superparamagnetic microrockets have been functionalized with fluorescent CdS quantum dots carrying a chiral host biomolecule as β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD). The “on‐the‐fly” chiral recognition potential of MRs has been interrogated by taking advantage of the β‐CD affinity to supramolecularly accommodate different chiral biomolecules (i.e., amino acids). As a proof‐of‐concept, tryptophan enantiomers have been discriminated with a dual‐mode (optical and electrochemical) readout. This approach paves the way to devise intelligent cargo micromachines with “built‐in” chiral supramolecular recognition capabilities to elucidate the concept of “enantiorecognition‐on‐the‐fly”, which might be facilely customized by tailoring the supramolecular host–guest encapsulation.

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