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Crossing Over: Nanostructures that Move Electrons and Ions across Cellular Membranes
Author(s) -
AjoFranklin Caroline M.,
Noy Aleksandr
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201500344
Subject(s) - nanostructure , nanotechnology , membrane , ion , materials science , transmembrane protein , ion transporter , electron , electron transport chain , chemical physics , electron flow , biophysics , chemistry , physics , biology , biochemistry , receptor , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Critical biological processes such as energy generation and signal transduction are driven by the flow of electrons and ions across the membranes of living cells. As a result, there is substantial interest in creating nanostructured materials that control transport of these charged species across biomembranes. Recent advances in the synthesis of de novo and protein nanostructures for transmembrane ion and electron transport and the mechanistic understanding underlying this transport are described. This body of work highlights the promise such nanostructures hold for directing transmembrane transport of charged species as well as challenges that must be overcome to realize that potential.