Glucose-Fueled Cascade Catalytic Micro/Nanomotors: Recent Advances and Biomedical Applications

With the advancement of micro/nanomotors toward greater functionalization and intelligence, increasing attention has been devoted to their biomedical applications, which in turn impose more stringent requirements on biocompatibility and propulsion performance. Given that glucose serves as both an energy source and a metabolic intermediate in living cells, glucose-fueled micro/nanomotors hold particular promise for life science applications. In this review, we focus on glucose-fueled micro/nanomotors driven by cascade catalytic reactions, which exhibit inherently favorable biocompatibility and enhanced propulsion. Beginning with the fundamental principles of cascade reactions, we summarize the types and current development status of cascade reactions employing glucose as a substrate. We then discuss the design strategies of glucose-fueled cascade catalytic micro/nanomotors in terms of carrier engineering, enzyme loading methodologies, propulsion mechanisms, and motility behaviors. Subsequently, we review recent progress in biomedical applications, with particular emphasis on in vitro and in vivo studies for cancer therapy, biological barrier penetration, and antibiofilm eradication. Finally, we conclude by addressing the current limitations of glucose-fueled cascade catalytic micro/nanomotors and the challenges that must be overcome to advance their practical translation.