1.D.148. The Synthetic Ion Channel Formed by Multiblock Amphiphile with Anisotropic Dual-Stimuli-Responsiveness (ChMAAR) Family
Inspired by the structures and functions of natural ion channels that can respond to multiple stimuli in an anisotropic manner, Sasaki et al. 2021 developed multiblock amphiphile VF. When VF was incorporated into lipid bilayer membranes, VF formed a supramolecular ion channel whose ion transport properties were controllable by the polarity and amplitude of the applied voltage. Microscopic emission spectroscopy revealed that VF changed its molecular conformation in response to the applied voltage. Furthermore, the ion transport property of VF could be reversibly switched by the addition of (R)-propranolol, an aromatic amine known as an antiarrhythmic agent, followed by the addition of beta-cyclodextrin for its removal. The highly regulated orientation of VF allowed for an anisotropic dual-stimuli-responsiveness as a synthetic ion channel (Sasaki et al. 2021).