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Published on: February 8, 2011
Pyridine/Oxadiazole-Based Helical Foldamer Ion Channels with Exceptionally High K+ /Na+ Selectivity
Feng Chen1, Jie Shen1, Ning Li1
1The NanoBio Lab, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, 138669, Singapore.
Abstract:
Protein channels are characterized by high transport selectivity, which is essential for maintaining cellular function. Efforts to reproduce such high selectivity over the past four decades have not been very successful. We report a novel series of aromatic foldamer-based polymeric channels where the backbone is stabilized by differential electrostatic repulsions among heteroatoms helically arrayed along the helical backbone. Nanotubes averaging 2.3 and 2.7 nm in length mediate highly efficient transport of K+ ions as a consequence of hydrophilic electron-rich hollow cavities that are 3 Å in diameter. Exceptionally high K+ and Na+ selectivity values of 16.3 and 12.6, respectively, are achieved.
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