Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Synthetic transmembrane ion transporters are traditionally classified as either ion channels or carriers. Here we introduce a new nanoparticle-based transporter architecture in which spherical gold nanoparticles densely decorated with flexible urea- and thiourea-based ion-binding arms efficiently mediate transmembrane anion transport, providing the first proof of principle for nanoparticle-based transmembrane anion transport. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal a dynamic relay mechanism in which chloride ions migrate across the membrane by successive hopping between flexible ion-binding arms, while thermal rotational motion of the nanoparticle further facilitates translocation by repeatedly dragging these arms between the aqueous phase and the membrane interior. These findings introduce a new design principle for the construction of synthetic ion transporters based on densely functionalized multivalent nanoparticles.
Source: ChemRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Narodowym Centrum Nauki
OpenAlex ID: W7214080492