Artificial water channels are synthetic molecules that aim to mimic structural and functional features of biological water channels (aquaporins). Here, we report on a cluster-forming organic nanoarchitecture, peptide-appended hybrid[4]arene (PAH[4]), as a new class of artificial water channels. Fluorescence experiments and simulations demonstrated that PAH[4]s can form clusters

Functionalization of quantum dots (QDs) with a single biomolecular tag using traditional approaches in bulk solution has met with limited success. DNA polyhedra consist of an internal void bounded by a well-defined three-dimensional structured surface. The void can house cargo and the surface can be functionalized with stoichiometric and spatial precision. Here, we show that monofunctionalized QDs can be achieved by encapsulating QDs inside DNA icosahedra and functionalizing the DNA shell with an endocytic ligand. We deployed the DNA-encapsulated QDs for real time imaging of three different endocytic ligands - folic acid, galectin-3 (Gal3) and the Shiga toxin B-subunit (STxB). Single particle tracking of Gal3 or STxB-functionalized, QD-loaded DNA icosahedra allows us to monitor compartmental dynamics along endocytic pathways. These DNA-encapsulated QDs that bear a unique stoichiometry of endocytic ligands represent a new class of molecular probes for quantitative imaging of endocytic receptor dynamics.

DNA nanotechnology allows for the design of programmable DNA-built nanodevices which controllably interact with biological membranes and even mimic the function of natural membrane proteins. Hydrophobic modifications, covalently linked to the DNA, are essential for targeted interfacing of DNA nanostructures with lipid membranes. However, these hydrophobic tags typically induce undesired aggregation eliminating structural control, the primary advantage of DNA nanotechnology. Here, we study the aggregation of cholesterol-modified DNA nanostructures using a combined approach of non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, dynamic light scattering, confocal microscopy and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. We show that the aggregation of cholesterol-tagged ssDNA is sequence-dependent, while for assembled DNA constructs, the number and position of the cholesterol tags are the dominating factors. Molecular dynamics simulations of cholesterol-modified ssDNA reveal that the nucleotides wrap around the hydrophobic moiety, shielding it from the environment. Utilizing this behavior, we demonstrate experimentally that the aggregation of cholesterol-modified DNA nanostructures can be controlled by the length of ssDNA overhangs positioned adjacent to the cholesterol. Our easy-to-implement method for tuning cholesterol-mediated aggregation allows for increased control and a closer structure–function relationship of membrane-interfacing DNA constructs — a fundamental prerequisite for employing DNA nanodevices in research and biomedicine.

Reported herein is a series of pore‐containing polymeric nanotubes based on a hydrogen‐bonded hydrazide backbone. Nanotubes of suitable lengths, possessing a hollow cavity of about a 6.5 Å diameter, mediate highly efficient transport of diverse types of anions, rather than cations, across lipid membranes. The reported polymer channel, having an average molecular weight of 18.2 kDa and 3.6 nm in helical height, exhibits the highest anion‐transport activities for iodide (EC50=0.042 μm or 0.028 mol % relative to lipid), whcih is transported 10 times more efficiently than chlorides (EC50=0.47 μm). Notably, even in cholesterol‐rich environment, iodide transport activity remains high with an EC50 of 0.37 μm. Molecular dynamics simulation studies confirm that the channel is highly selective for anions and that such anion selectivity arises from a positive electrostatic potential of the central lumen rendered by the interior‐pointing methyl groups.

The outstanding capacity of aquaporins (AQPs) for mediating highly selective superfast water transport 1-7 has inspired recent development of supramolecular monovalent ion-excluding artificial water channels (AWCs). AWC-based bioinspired membranes are proposed for desalination, water purification, and other separations applications [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] . While some recent progress has been made in synthesizing AWCs that approach the water permeability and ion selectivity of AQPs, a hallmark feature of AQPshigh water transport while excluding protons has not been reproduced. We report on a class of biomimetic, helically folded pore-forming polymeric foldamers, that can serve as long sought-after highly selective ultrafast water-conducting channels exceeding those of AQPs (1.1 × 10 10 H2O molecules/s for AQP1 7 ), with high water over monovalent ion transport selectivity (~10 8 water molecules over Clion) conferred by the modularly tunable hydrophobicity of the interior pore surface. The best-performing AWC reported here delivers water transport at an exceptionally high rate, 2.5 times that of AQP1, while concurrently rejecting salts (NaCl and KCl) and even protons.