Building Bio-Inspired Artificial Functional Nanochannels: From Symmetric to Asymmetric Modification

Over millions of years, complex processes of intelligent control have evolved in nature. Learning from nature is a continuing theme in the development of smart materials and intelligent systems. For example, biological nanochannels, which are typically ion channels, play a very important role in bas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2012-05, Vol.51 (22), p.5296-5307
Main Authors: Hou, Xu, Zhang, Huacheng, Jiang, Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asymmetry
Biomimetic Materials - chemistry
biomimetics
Buildings
Channels
Construction
Design engineering
Intelligent systems
Ion Channels
nanochannels
Nanopores
Nanostructure
nanostructures
Nanostructures - chemistry
nanotechnology
Strategy
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Summary:Over millions of years, complex processes of intelligent control have evolved in nature. Learning from nature is a continuing theme in the development of smart materials and intelligent systems. For example, biological nanochannels, which are typically ion channels, play a very important role in basic biochemical processes in cells. Inspired by ion channels, in which the components are asymmetrically distributed between the membrane surfaces, the generation of biomimetic smart nanochannels is a broad and varied scientific research field. The design and development of new biomimetic channels includes the use of different shapes of channels, different stimuli‐responsive molecules, and different symmetric/asymmetric modification methods. In this Minireview, we summarize recent developments in building functional nanochannels by applying various symmetric and asymmetric modifications. Research on symmetric and asymmetric modifications of single nanochannels for building bio‐inspired, artificial, functional nanochannels is a diverse field. By using track‐etched polymer nanochannels with different shapes as an example, the feasibility and the design strategies for building such nanochannels by applying symmetric and asymmetric modifications is demonstrated. These modification techniques may also be extended to other materials.
ISSN:1433-7851
1521-3773
DOI:10.1002/anie.201104904