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Engineering Smart Nanofluidic Systems for Artificial Ion Channels and Ion Pumps: From Single‐Pore to Multichannel Membranes
Author(s) -
Zhang Zhen,
Huang Xiaodong,
Qian Yongchao,
Chen Weipeng,
Wen Liping,
Jiang Lei
Publication year - 2020
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.201904351
Subject(s) - nanofluidics , nanotechnology , nanopore , materials science , ion channel , artificial cell , membrane , ion , computer science , chemistry , biochemistry , receptor , organic chemistry
Biological ion channels and ion pumps with intricate ion transport functions widely exist in living organisms and play irreplaceable roles in almost all physiological functions. Nanofluidics provides exciting opportunities to mimic these working processes, which not only helps understand ion transport in biological systems but also paves the way for the applications of artificial devices in many valuable areas. Recent progress in the engineering of smart nanofluidic systems for artificial ion channels and ion pumps is summarized. The artificial systems range from chemically and structurally diverse lipid‐membrane‐based nanopores to robust and scalable solid‐state nanopores. A generic strategy of gate location design is proposed. The single‐pore‐based platform concept can be rationally extended into multichannel membrane systems and shows unprecedented potential in many application areas, such as single‐molecule analysis, smart mass delivery, and energy conversion. Finally, some present underpinning issues that need to be addressed are discussed.