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Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Membrane Transport Processes Analyzed by a Highly Parallel Nanopore Chip System at Single Protein Resolution
Published on: August 16, 2016
Using Nanoscale Passports To Understand and Unlock Ion Channels as Gatekeepers of the Cell
Nafiseh Olov1,2, Shirin Nour1,2,3, Alexander R Harris1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract:
Natural ion channels are proteins embedded in the cell membrane that control many aspects of cell and human physiology by acting as gatekeepers, regulating the flow of ions in and out of cells. Advances in nanotechnology have influenced the methods for studying ion channels in vitro, as well as ways to unlock the delivery of therapeutics by modulating them in vivo. This review provides an overview of nanotechnology-enabled approaches for ion channel research with a focus on the synthesis and applications of synthetic ion channels. Further, the uses of nanotechnology for therapeutic applications are critically analyzed. Finally, we provide an outlook on the opportunities and challenges at the intersection of nanotechnology and ion channels. This work highlights the key role of nanoscale interactions in the operation and modulation of ion channels, which may prompt insights into nanotechnology-enabled mechanisms to study and exploit these systems in the near future.
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