Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Shen, Changliang Ren, Huaquiang Zeng
Summary: Both biological and artificial membrane transporters regulate the transport of materials across cells through different mechanisms. Recent studies have discovered unconventional membrane transporters such as molecular swings, ionfishers, and ion swimmers, which have different transport mechanisms and ion selectivities. These findings contribute to our understanding and design of artificial ion transporters, with potential implications for future medical research.
ACCOUNTS OF CHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Zhang, Chenyang Zhang, Xin Dong, Zeyuan Dong
Summary: In this study, artificial supramolecular lithium channels composed of pore-containing small aromatic molecules were developed for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. These channels showed unprecedented transmembrane transport of exogenous lithium ions with high selectivity. The discovery of the basic requirements for ion transport function in these channels may have important implications in studying the physiological role of intracellular lithium ions and treating psychiatric disorders.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rashmi Sharma, Amal Vijay, Sandip Chattopadhayay, Arnab Mukherjee, Pinaki Talukdar
Summary: Two self-assembled barrel-rosette ion channels were developed using bis(1,3-propanediol)-linked m-dipropynylbenzene-based molecules. The system with an additional amide arm performed better as a channel compared to the one with an ester arm. The amide-linked channel showed substantial activity and excellent chloride selectivity in lipid bilayer membranes.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zhongwu Li, Rahul Prasanna Misra, Yuhao Li, Yun-Chiao Yao, Sidi Zhao, Yuliang Zhang, Yunfei Chen, Daniel Blankschtein, Aleksandr Noy
Summary: Experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations show that the Nernst-Einstein relation breaks down in narrow carbon nanotube porins. K+ ion diffusion is three orders of magnitude slower in these channels due to the disintegration of water chains and the formation of K+-water clusters. This study reveals two distinct mechanisms for ion diffusion and electromigration, leading to the breakdown of the overall Nernst-Einstein relation.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Shen, Fan Fei, Yulong Zhong, Chunhai Fan, Jielin Sun, Jun Hu, Bing Gong, Daniel M. Czajkowsky, Zhifeng Shao
Summary: Researchers have developed a self-assembling nanopore with a hybrid hydrophilic/hydrophobic lumen that allows for regulated water transport by alkali metal ions. The study demonstrates a non-monotonic dependence of water transport on cation size, with a broad range of water flow observed, from minimal in the presence of sodium ions to levels comparable to a biological water channel in their absence. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the sensitivity of water flow is due to the binding of cations within the pore, providing a proof-of-concept for the rational design of controllable synthetic water channels.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Vadim Volkov, Heiner Schwenke
Summary: This review summarizes the current knowledge on root exudation phenomenon, highlighting the changes in understanding over time due to experimental opportunities and new ideas from various knowledge areas. Recent advances in ion and water transport research at the molecular level suggest potential future directions for understanding root exudation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manoj Yadav, Prem Prashant Chaudhary, Brandon D'Souza, Grace A. Ratley, Jacquelyn Spathies, Sundar Ganesan, Jordan Zeldin, Ian Myles
Summary: We used EPA databases to identify that isocyanates, especially toluene diisocyanate (TDI), have the strongest association with atopic dermatitis (AD) in terms of spatiotemporal and epidemiologic factors. Our findings suggest that isocyanates disrupt lipid homeostasis and have a beneficial effect on commensal bacteria like Roseomonas mucosa by disrupting nitrogen fixation. Additionally, TDI activates transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in mice, contributing to AD symptoms. Our study demonstrates that TDI induces skin inflammation and calcium influx in human neurons through TRPA1, and TRPA1 blockade combined with R. mucosa treatment improves TDI-independent AD models. We also show that the effects of TRPA1 on cells are related to the balance of tyrosine metabolites epinephrine and dopamine. This work provides valuable insights into the potential role and therapeutic potential of TRPA1 in AD pathogenesis.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Alexander P. Antonov, Artem Ryabov, Philipp Maass
Summary: This study shows that solitons can be generated through driven overdamped Brownian dynamics of hard spheres in periodic potentials at high densities. These solitons appear as periodic sequences of different particle assemblies in the limit of zero noise and give rise to particle currents even at low temperatures.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Bergman, Randy F. Sweis, Alexander T. Pearson, Fereshteh Nazari, Trachette L. Jackson
Summary: Agent-based models are a useful platform for studying biological processes at different scales, but they can be computationally expensive. This study proposes a method that allows for the same computational time regardless of the number of agents, significantly speeding up simulations and enabling more thorough exploration of ABMs with larger agent populations.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jun Mei, Ting Liao, Ziqi Sun
Summary: Ion transport is essential for biological systems and rechargeable batteries. Rapid ion transport can be achieved through crystal channel engineering and functional channels design. Research in this field covers ion transport phenomena in biological systems, ion transport mechanisms in solid and liquid crystals, and ion transport properties in electrodes and electrolytes for rechargeable batteries.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manzoor Ahmad, Naveen J. Roy, Anurag Singh, Debashis Mondal, Abhishek Mondal, Thangavel Vijayakanth, Mayurika Lahiri, Pinaki Talukdar
Summary: Artificial biomimetic chloride anionophores have potential applications in anticancer scaffolds. Stimuli-responsive chloride transporters that can be selectively activated inside cancer cells are rare. Light-responsive systems, with their spatiotemporal controllability, low toxicity, and high tunability, show promise for photodynamic therapy. In this work, o-nitrobenzyl-linked, benzimidazole-based protransporters and active transporters were studied, and one compound showed efficient ion transport activity. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed the main ion transport process and the necessity of double protection with photocages for complete activation by external light. The activated procarriers induced phototoxic cell death in MCF-7 cancer cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manzoor Ahmad, Naveen J. Roy, Anurag Singh, Debashis Mondal, Abhishek Mondal, Thangavel Vijayakanth, Mayurika Lahiri, Pinaki Talukdar
Summary: Artificial biomimetic chloride anionophores have potential applications as anticancer scaffolds. Stimuli-responsive chloride transporters that can be selectively activated inside cancer cells are rare, and light-responsive systems show promise for photodynamic therapy. In this study, O-nitrobenzyl-linked, benzimidazole-based protransporters and benzimidazole-2-amine-based active transporters were synthesized. Trifluoromethyl-based anionophore showed efficient ion transport activity, and mechanistic studies revealed Cl-/NO3- antiport as the main ion transport process. Activation of the protransporters inside MCF-7 cancer cells induced phototoxic cell death.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiahao Lu, Yanan Jiang, Ping Yu, Wei Jiang, Lanqun Mao
Summary: This article provides a systematic overview of light-controlled ion channels and ion pumps, discussing their development and exploring their applications in molecular sensing, water purification, and energy conversion.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Sangeeta Negi
Summary: Ion transport through synthetic ion channels created by swift heavy ion irradiation on PET membranes has been studied for cation and anion selectivity. UV radiation has been found to affect ion transport through the synthetic channels, and the pH of the electrolytes also plays a role in ion transport through cation and anion selective membranes.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yifei Zhao, Weiwen Xin, Yongchao Qian, Zhehua Zhang, Yadong Wu, Xiangbin Lin, Xiang-Yu Kong, Lei Jiang, Liping Wen
Summary: A high-performance nanofluidic membrane was designed in this study, which could capture energy from salinity gradients between river water and seawater. The membrane showed high power density and acid resistance, making it a promising candidate for industrial waste treatment using energy extracted from chemical potential gradients.
SCIENCE CHINA-MATERIALS
(2022)
