Biodegradable bubble moves away from lactic acid without a motor—a step toward artificial cells

AI Summary

Researchers have developed a biodegradable bubble that moves away from lactic acid without a motor, demonstrating a simple form of self-directed movement. The finding may contribute to the development of artificial cells and, in the longer term, self-steering particles for targeted drug delivery.

A tiny biodegradable bubble can move away from a chemical on its own, without a motor. Living cells need complex molecular machinery to do this. This discovery by researchers led by chemist Daniela Wilson at Radboud University, together with colleagues at Durham University, is a step toward artificial cells with lifelike behavior and could, in the long term, provide an interesting approach for self-steering particles in targeted drug delivery.