Selective sensing and transport in bionic nanochannel based on macrocyclic host-guest chemistry

Abstract

Imitating the signal transduction and transmembrane transport controlled by biological channels in the cell membrane, artificial nanochannels with a similar capability of sensing and transport are constructed as bionic nanochannels. To accomplish selective sensing and transport of biological analyte (as “guest”), the bionic nanochannels are modified with the artificial receptor (as “host”). Based on selective recognition between host and guest, bionic nanochannels translate the stimulus of the guest to electrochemical signal as sensors, and further regulate the transmission of guest as transporters. However, throughout all kinds of guests, the selective sensing and transport of ions and chiral molecules is a challenging problem. And throughout all hosts of ions and chiral molecules, the macrocyclic hosts with multisite of recognition show better selectivity, such as crown ethers, cyclodextrins, calixarenes, and pillararenes. In this article, we highlight recent advances in the macrocyclic host-based nanochannels for the selective sensing and transport of ionic and chiral guests, summarize the similarities and differences of different kinds of macrocyclic host-based nanochannels, and expect the research direction and application prospect.