Patent attributes
Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for intracellular payload delivery by nanomotor structures. In some aspects, a nanomotor for intracellular payload delivery includes an asymmetric body having a concave cavity at one end of the nanowire body; a functionalization layer on an outer surface of the nanowire body; and a payload substance coupled to the nanomotor by the functionalization layer in a biologically active conformation, wherein the payload substance is attached to a portion of the functionalization layer or at least partially encapsulated within the functionalization layer, in which the nanomotor is operable to propel in a biological medium and into an intracellular region of a living cell to initiate an interaction of the biologically active payload substance with an intracellular constituent of the living cell.