Artificial Water Channels: Towards Biomimetic Membranes for Desalination

Published on Feb 1, 2021in Chemistry: A European Journal5.236
· DOI :10.1002/CHEM.202003470
Li-Bo Huang5
Estimated H-index: 5
 (SYSU: Sun Yat-sen University), Maria Di Vincenzo3
Estimated H-index: 3
 + 1 AuthorsMihail Barboiu51
Estimated H-index: 51
Sources
Abstract
Natural Aquaporin (AQP) channels are efficient water translocating proteins, rejecting ions. Inspired by this masterpiece of nature, Artificial Water Channels (AWCs) with controlled functional structures, can be potentially used to mimic the AQPs to a certain extent, offering flexible avenues toward biomimetic membranes for water purification. The objective of this paper is to trace the historical development and significant advancements of current reported AWCs. Meanwhile, we attempt to reveal important structural insights and supramolecular self-assembly principles governing the selective water transport mechanisms, toward innovative AWC-based biomimetic membranes for desalination.
References85
Newest
Artificial aquaporins are synthetic molecules that mimic the structure and function of natural aquaporins (AQPs) in cell membranes. The development of artificial aquaporins would provide an alterna...
Source
Aug 25, 2020·Chemical Reviews60.62
#1Charlotte I. Lynch (University of Oxford)H-Index: 4
#2Shanlin Rao (University of Oxford)H-Index: 12
Last. Mark S.P. Sansom (University of Oxford)H-Index: 103
view all 3 authors...
This Review explores the dynamic behavior of water within nanopores and biological channels in lipid bilayer membranes. We focus on molecular simulation studies, alongside selected structural and other experimental investigations. Structures of biological nanopores and channels are reviewed, emphasizing those high-resolution crystal structures, which reveal water molecules within the transmembrane pores, which can be used to aid the interpretation of simulation studies. Different levels of molec...
Source
May 6, 2020·Journal of the American Chemical Society15.42
#1Jie ShenH-Index: 16
#2Ruijuan Ye (NUS: National University of Singapore)H-Index: 10
Last. Huaqiang ZengH-Index: 40
view all 8 authors...
Synthetic water channels were developed with an aim to replace Aquaporins for possible uses in water purification, while concurrently retaining Aquaporins’ ability to conduct highly selective super...
Source
Mar 1, 2020·Nature Materials43.84
#1Andrew G. Livingston (ICL: Imperial College London)H-Index: 72
#2Zhiwei Jiang (ICL: Imperial College London)H-Index: 6
Using organic solvent shortens formation time of membrane nanosheets comprising proteins and copolymers, while tuning protein structure tailors the pore geometry, resulting in superior water permeation.
Source
Feb 1, 2020·Advanced Materials30.85
#1Yang Yang (Bielefeld University)H-Index: 8
The collective "single-file" motion of water molecules through natural and artificial nanoconduits inspires the development of high-performance membranes for water separation. However, a material that contains a large number of pores combining rapid water flow with superior ion rejection is still highly desirable. Here, a 1.2 nm thick carbon nanomembrane (CNM) made from cross-linking of terphenylthiol (TPT) self-assembled monolayers is reported to possess these properties. Utilizing their extrem...
Source
Jan 27, 2020·Nature Materials43.84
#1Yu-Ming Tu (University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 6
#2Woochul Song (University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 11
Last. Manish KumarH-Index: 30
view all 24 authors...
Biological membranes are ideal for separations as they provide high permeability while maintaining high solute selectivity due to the presence of specialized membrane protein (MP) channels. However, successful integration of MPs into manufactured membranes has remained a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a two-hour organic solvent method to develop 2D crystals and nanosheets of highly packed pore-forming MPs in block copolymers (BCPs). We then integrate these hybrid materials into scal...
Source
Jan 1, 2020·Nature Nanotechnology39.21
#1Woochul Song (University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 11
#2Himanshu Joshi (UIUC: University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign)H-Index: 14
Last. Manish Kumar (University of Texas at Austin)H-Index: 30
view all 17 authors...
Artificial water channels are synthetic molecules that aim to mimic the 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, through lateral diffusion, clusters in lipid membranes that provide synergistic membrane-spanning paths for a rapid and sele...
Source
Jan 1, 2020·Nature Nanotechnology39.21
#1Aleksandr Noy (UCM: University of California, Merced)H-Index: 51
#2Meni Wanunu (NU: Northeastern University)H-Index: 43
Desalination membranes based on the water transport through transient channels shows a new way to achieve high permeability and selectivity
Source
Nov 15, 2019·Journal of Membrane Science8.74
#1Zhiqing Yang (HKU: University of Hong Kong)H-Index: 39
Abstract Membrane separation properties are constrained by a tradeoff relationship between permeability and selectivity. This tradeoff relationship has been well established for gas separation membranes in the form of the Robeson's upper bound. In contrast, the upper bound relationship is much less established for thin-film composite (TFC) polyamide membranes used for desalination. In this work, we analyzed the tradeoff between the water permeance and the water/NaCl selectivity for TFC membranes...
Source
Oct 1, 2019·Desalination9.50
#1Ye Li (NTU: Nanyang Technological University)H-Index: 19
#2Saren Qi (NTU: Nanyang Technological University)H-Index: 15
Last. Rui Wang (NTU: Nanyang Technological University)H-Index: 100
view all 5 authors...
Abstract This study focuses on enhancing the mechanical strength of aquaporin (AQP)-based biomimetic membranes for seawater desalination. AQP incorporated vesicles were embedded into the selective layer of an optimized thin film composite (TFC) membrane. The resultant membrane, denoted as ASW, exhibited a stable water flux around 20 L·m−2·h−1 and 99% NaCl rejection at a constant pressure of 55 bar using 32,000 mg·L−1 NaCl solution as feed in reverse osmosis (RO) measurement. The robustness of th...
Source
123456789
Cited By5
Newest
Sep 8, 2021·Accounts of Chemical Research22.38
#1Kohei SatoH-Index: 12
#2Takahiro Muraoka (TUAT: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)H-Index: 18
Last. Kazushi KinbaraH-Index: 33
view all 3 authors...
Transmembrane proteins located within biological membranes play a crucial role in a variety of important cellular processes, such as energy conversion and signal transduction. Among them, ion channel proteins that can transport specific ions across the biological membranes are particularly important for achieving precise control over those processes. Strikingly, approximately 20% of currently approved drugs are targeted to ion channel proteins within membranes. Thus, synthetic molecules that can...
Source
Artificial water channels (AWCs) and their natural aquaporin counterparts selectively transport water. They represent a tremendous source of inspiration to devise biomimetic membranes for several applications, including desalination. They contain variable water-channel constructs with adaptative architectures and morphologies. Herein, we critically discuss the structural details that can impact the performances of biomimetic I quartets, obtained via adaptive self-assembly of alkylureido-ethylimi...
Source
#4Saurav Goel (LSBU: London South Bank University)H-Index: 1
Insights into the biological channels and synthetic pore-forming assemblies have elucidated many fundamental aspects of selective water and solute transport over the last few decades. This has led to the development of novel technologies with unique selectivity and permeability. In terms of membrane separation technology, this development has proceeded by adapting either of two approaches: (i) one where biological channel proteins are reconstituted in suitable materials mimicking the biological ...
Source
May 10, 2021·Journal of Chemical Physics3.49
#1Arthur Hardiagon (University of Paris)H-Index: 1
#2Samuel Murail (University of Paris)H-Index: 17
Last. Marc Baaden (University of Paris)H-Index: 38
view all 7 authors...
Understanding water transport mechanisms at the nanoscale level remains a challenge for theoretical chemical physics. Major advances in chemical synthesis have allowed us to discover new artificial water channels, rivaling with or even surpassing water conductance and selectivity of natural protein channels. In order to interpret experimental features and understand microscopic determinants for performance improvements, numerical approaches based on all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and en...
Source
Artificial water channels (AWCs) are known to selectively transport water, with ion exclusion. Similarly to natural porins, AWCs encapsulate water wires or clusters, offering continuous and iterative H-bonding that plays a vital role in their stabilization. Herein, we report octyl-ureido-polyol AWCs capable of self-assembly into hydrophilic hydroxy channels. Variants of ethanol, propanediol, and trimethanol are used as head groups to modulate the water transport permeabilities, with rejection of...
Source
1
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to improve your online experience. By continuing to use our website we assume you agree to the placement of these cookies.
To learn more, you can find in our Privacy Policy.