Conical-nanotube ion-current rectifiers: the role of surface charge

Journal of the American Chemical Society
Zuzanna SiwyCharles R Martin

Abstract

Ion channels are protein pores that span cell membranes and open and close in response to stimuli like changes in the transmembrane potential, binding of a ligand, or mechanical stress. When open, ions pass through the pore, and hence across the cell membrane, and when closed, ion-transport is precluded. Hence, these channels are nanodevices that have a current-rectification function. There is intense research effort aimed at understanding the molecular-level mechanism for this function. One approach for elucidating the mechanism is to construct a simple abiotic system that mimics this function and to use the mechanistic details of this mimic as a guide to understand the more complex biological channel. We describe here such an abiotic mimic: a synthetic membrane that contains a single conical gold nanotube. The advantage of this mimic is that the surface charge and chemistry of the nanotube wall can be varied, at will, by judicious choice of electrolyte or by thiol chemisorption. This has allowed us to make conical Au nanotubes that rectify the ion current and, just as importantly, to definitively elucidate the mechanism of this function.

References

Jul 4, 2001·Scientific American·R D Astumian
Nov 22, 2002·Physical Review Letters·Z Siwy, A Fuliński
Dec 13, 2003·Analytical Chemistry·C Chad HarrellCharles R Martin

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Citations

Nov 26, 2010·Analytical Chemistry·Niya SaLane A Baker
May 30, 2013·Accounts of Chemical Research·Wei GuoLei Jiang
Apr 24, 2010·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Lindsay T SextonCharles R Martin
Aug 20, 2011·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Dmitry Momotenko, Hubert H Girault
Aug 2, 2011·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Wen-Jie LanHenry S White
Mar 26, 2009·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Yan HeZuzanna S Siwy
Jun 11, 2009·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Ivan VlassioukZuzanna S Siwy
Feb 4, 2010·Journal of the American Chemical Society·Pu JinCharles R Martin
Nov 9, 2006·Nano Letters·Senkei UmeharaMiloslav Karhanek
May 23, 2007·Nano Letters·Maria E GrachevaJean-Pierre Leburton
Feb 26, 2008·Nature Materials·Rong FanPeidong Yang
Nov 9, 2006·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Youngseon ChoiCharles R Martin
Sep 21, 2007·Molecular BioSystems·Lindsay T SextonCharles R Martin
Aug 5, 2009·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Yaqin FuLane A Baker
Feb 24, 2010·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Ye TianDaoben Zhu
Jun 22, 2010·The Analyst·Celeste A MorrisLane A Baker
Sep 25, 2010·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Alexis E AbelowIlya Zharov
Feb 24, 2011·Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP·Dmitry MomotenkoHubert H Girault
Dec 15, 2010·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Michael ZwolakMassimiliano Di Ventra
Sep 11, 2010·Science·Chang Young LeeMichael S Strano
Jun 30, 2011·Nanoscale Research Letters·Stefan M HarazimOliver G Schmidt
Mar 18, 2006·The Journal of Chemical Physics·Javier CerveraPatricio Ramírez
Sep 21, 2013·The Journal of Chemical Physics·Michael J Vitarelli, David S Talaga
Apr 5, 2011·Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry·Kaimeng ZhouStephen C Jacobson
Jan 20, 2016·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Peng GaoWilliam A Phillip

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