Self-Assembly Of A Small Synthetic Molecule Forms Well-Defined Ion Channels

Synthetic ion channels are interesting for pharmacological and biomedical applications, including the development of antimicrobial agents, drug delivery vehicles, and biosensors. Previous work demonstrated that the attachment of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) groups to a molecular template such as cyclodextrin can lead to the formation of pore-forming molecules in lipid membranes. Here, we introduce small synthetic molecules based on oligo(ethylene glycol) and benzothiazol aniline (BTA) derivatives, which self-assemble in lipid bilayer to form ion channels with very-well defined ion conductances. Remarkably, these self-assembled ion pores were selective for monovalent cations and could be “gated” by changes in pH.