Abstract
The escalating spread of micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs), originating from plastic waste fragmentation in the environment, is a growing global concern with detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems. Previous methods for MPs/NPs treatment/removal poses significant challenges such as filtration, sedimentation efficiency, potential introduction of additional pollutants and expensive fabrication steps. In the current work, for the first-time keratin (KER)-based biohybrid micro/nanorobots obtained by facile decorations of iron-oxide microspheres with magnetic capabilities designed to dynamically remove (MPs/NPs) through various chemical/physical interactions, precise magnetic actuation, and improved surface functionalities. By integrating iron-oxide microspheres, keratin biohybrids achieve accurate motility and manipulation via external magnetic field regulation. This fuel free keratin magnetic micro/nanorobots (KMNRs) exhibit notable adsorptive removal efficiencies of 95% and 82% for (MPs/NPs) in water, offering diverse potentiality. Additionally, KMNRs demonstrated excellent recyclability, enhancing their sustainability. With eco-friendly, cost-effective, and real-world application attributes, designed KMNRs present an appealing approach to addressing MPs/NPs pollution.
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