{"id":34484,"date":"2026-10-24T16:40:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T13:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=34484"},"modified":"2026-10-24T16:40:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T13:40:46","slug":"material-sam-vyrobliaye-molekuliarni-dvyhuny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/science-tech\/material-sam-vyrobliaye-molekuliarni-dvyhuny\/","title":{"rendered":"A material that moves on its own: scientists have developed an unusual technology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">An international team of researchers has created an unusual material capable of independently producing molecular \u00abengines\u00bb, changing shape and controlling its own movement according to instructions encoded in its DNA. This does not require living cells or constant external control. The experiment was carried out by scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Minnesota in the US. The results were published on 8 October 2026 in the journal *Nature Materials*.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\"><strong>Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Scientists have created a material that produces its own protein \u00abmotors\u00bb and changes shape according to its DNA programme.<\/li>\n<li>The material can move without living cells or constant external control.<\/li>\n<li>By altering its genetic programme, the researchers taught it to speed up, slow down, stop and resume movement.<\/li>\n<li>In the experiments, movement began approximately 1\u20134 hours later, depending on the amount of DNA.<\/li>\n<li>This discovery could help in the development of programmable materials and soft robotic systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>How does a material that generates its own power work?<\/h2>\n<p>The development was based on <strong>microtubes<\/strong> \u2014 extremely thin protein structures that form the internal framework of living cells. In nature, they help to maintain the shape of cells and facilitate the movement of various components within them.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers gathered these protein filaments into a dense layer and added DNA along with the substances and cellular components required for protein production.<\/p>\n<p>The key component of the system is kinesin \u2014 a molecular motor capable of moving along microtubules by utilising chemical energy.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of adding ready-made motors, the researchers programmed the material to produce them directly within its own structure.<\/p>\n<p>As the amount of kinesin increased, its molecules began to interact with the protein filaments and caused them to slide past one another.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the initially stationary layer became deformed, forming folds and raised areas, and subsequently broke up into bundles which began to move.<\/p>\n<h2>The material began to move after one to four hours<\/h2>\n<p>During the experiments, the researchers varied the concentration of DNA containing the instructions for producing kinesin. It turned out that the amount of genetic material directly influences the time it takes for movement to begin.<\/p>\n<p>At the lowest DNA concentration studied, detectable activity began after approximately four hours. At the highest concentration, it began after just one hour.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, increasing the DNA concentration did not result in an infinite acceleration of the material. Beyond a certain threshold, additional molecular motors mainly reduced the time taken for the material to start moving, rather than increasing its final speed.<\/p>\n<p>During one of the experiments, the synthesis of new proteins almost came to a halt after about six hours due to the depletion of the necessary resources. However, the movement of the material continued for over ten hours thanks to the replenishment of the chemical fuel reserves used by the engines that had already been created.<\/p>\n<h2>Scientists have taught a material to stop and start moving again<\/h2>\n<p>The next challenge was to control the behaviour of the material without directly intervening at every stage of its operation.<\/p>\n<p>To achieve this, the scientists introduced genetic instructions into the system to produce the PRC1 protein. This protein links microtubules together and prevents them from sliding apart.<\/p>\n<p>As the concentration of this protein increased, the movement gradually slowed down or ceased altogether.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers also created a genetic feedback mechanism. This regulated the production of molecular motors via another protein capable of inhibiting their synthesis.<\/p>\n<p>This has made it possible to achieve several operating modes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Continuous motion<\/strong> \u2014 the protein structures remained active for a long time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Short-term movement<\/strong> \u2014 the material was activated and then stopped.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Complete closure to traffic<\/strong> \u2014 additional protein bonds prevented the filaments from moving.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Oscillatory mode<\/strong> \u2014 The speed fluctuated, increasing and decreasing from time to time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thus, the behaviour of the material was determined not only by its initial structure, but also by a genetic programme that continued to operate within the system.<\/p>\n<h2>DNA controls the speed of movement, whilst the shape of the surface controls its direction<\/h2>\n<p>Separately, the researchers investigated whether it is possible to influence the direction of the deformations.<\/p>\n<p>To do this, they used narrow channels and specially shaped microscopic protrusions on the surface.<\/p>\n<p>Such obstacles altered the way the protein layer folded and promoted the formation of three-dimensional structures.<\/p>\n<p>In some experiments, these structures were stretched by several millimetres.<\/p>\n<p>The results showed that genetic instructions can determine when the material begins to move and how its activity will change, whilst the geometry of the surrounding environment influences the spatial shape of the deformations.<\/p>\n<h2>Where could a material containing molecular motors be used?<\/h2>\n<p>The authors of the study regard their development as the basis for a new class of programmable materials, the mechanical properties of which will be determined by biochemical processes.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead <strong>Technologies of this kind can help to create soft robotic systems<\/strong>, capable of changing shape and performing programmed sequences of movements.<\/p>\n<p>Another possible avenue is artificial cell-like structures that will replicate certain mechanical functions of living cells without the use of fully-fledged living organisms.<\/p>\n<p>However, these applications remain areas for further research. Scientists have not yet demonstrated a finished robot or a practical device based on the new material.<\/p>\n<h2>Can this new material be described as \u2018alive\u2019?<\/h2>\n<p>Despite its ability to produce its own engines and alter its behaviour, the design is not a living organism.<\/p>\n<p>It does not have a fully functioning cellular metabolism, does not reproduce, and cannot provide itself with the necessary resources independently.<\/p>\n<p>To function, it requires pre-prepared protein structures, genetic instructions and chemical components that enable protein synthesis and the generation of mechanical energy.<\/p>\n<p>The main achievement of the research lies elsewhere: the scientists have succeeded in establishing a direct link between the genetic programme and changes in the mechanical properties of non-living material.<\/p>\n<p>Previously, such systems were usually supplied with ready-made molecular motors during their creation. Now, the material can produce and regulate their number once its structure has been formed.<\/p>\n<p>It is precisely this that opens up opportunities for the development of more complex systems capable of performing sequential mechanical actions in accordance with pre-recorded biochemical instructions.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u041c\u0456\u0436\u043d\u0430\u0440\u043e\u0434\u043d\u0430 \u0433\u0440\u0443\u043f\u0430 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0456\u0434\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0456\u0432 \u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u0437\u0432\u0438\u0447\u0430\u0439\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u043c\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0456\u0430\u043b, \u044f\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0437\u0434\u0430\u0442\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0456\u0439\u043d\u043e \u0432\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0431\u043b\u044f\u0442\u0438 \u043c\u043e\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0443\u043b\u044f\u0440\u043d\u0456 \u00ab\u0434\u0432\u0438\u0433\u0443\u043d\u0438\u00bb, 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