Ions in motion: From biological channels to engineered transport systems

IF 5.4 1区化学 Q2 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY GIANT Pub Date : 2025-01-15 DOI:10.1016/j.giant.2025.100352

Bei Wu , Yifan Yan , Yuting Zhu , Changxing Ji , Yangyang Lin , Chao Lang

{"title":"Ions in motion: From biological channels to engineered transport systems","authors":"Bei Wu , Yifan Yan , Yuting Zhu , Changxing Ji , Yangyang Lin , Chao Lang","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2025.100352","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural membrane proteins are molecular machines evolved over billions of years, playing crucial roles in various physiological functions by precisely mediating transmembrane transport processes. Inspired by these marvels, people have developed many artificial transport systems with structures and functions matching those of natural proteins. Compared to proteins in nature, engineered transport systems offer advantage in structural simplicity, stability, and cost-effectiveness. These artificial systems could find applications in areas ranging from medical treatment to new materials, and to biotechnologies. This review begins by examining ionic flow in nature, where the high efficiency and selectivity of protein channels have inspired engineered systems. We then explore different types of artificial transport systems, including artificial channels, transporters, and nanopores, and techniques for characterizing these systems. Applications in therapeutics, biotechnologies, separation, and energy harvesting are discussed. Finally, we offer perspectives and outlook on the further advancement of the artificial ion transport systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100352"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"GIANT","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542525000013","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Natural membrane proteins are molecular machines evolved over billions of years, playing crucial roles in various physiological functions by precisely mediating transmembrane transport processes. Inspired by these marvels, people have developed many artificial transport systems with structures and functions matching those of natural proteins. Compared to proteins in nature, engineered transport systems offer advantage in structural simplicity, stability, and cost-effectiveness. These artificial systems could find applications in areas ranging from medical treatment to new materials, and to biotechnologies. This review begins by examining ionic flow in nature, where the high efficiency and selectivity of protein channels have inspired engineered systems. We then explore different types of artificial transport systems, including artificial channels, transporters, and nanopores, and techniques for characterizing these systems. Applications in therapeutics, biotechnologies, separation, and energy harvesting are discussed. Finally, we offer perspectives and outlook on the further advancement of the artificial ion transport systems.

Abstract Image

查看原文

微信好友朋友圈 QQ好友复制链接

本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文去求助

来源期刊

GIANT Multiple-

CiteScore

8.50

自引率

8.60%

发文量

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： Giant is an interdisciplinary title focusing on fundamental and applied macromolecular science spanning all chemistry, physics, biology, and materials aspects of the field in the broadest sense. Key areas covered include macromolecular chemistry, supramolecular assembly, multiscale and multifunctional materials, organic-inorganic hybrid materials, biophysics, biomimetics and surface science. Core topics range from developments in synthesis, characterisation and assembly towards creating uniformly sized precision macromolecules with tailored properties, to the design and assembly of nanostructured materials in multiple dimensions, and further to the study of smart or living designer materials with tuneable multiscale properties.