Volume 57, Issue 51 pp. 16708-16712
Communication

Bacteriorhodopsin-Inspired Light-Driven Artificial Molecule Motors for Transmembrane Mass Transportation

Dr. Ganhua Xie

Dr. Ganhua Xie

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Pei Li

Dr. Pei Li

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Dr. Zhiju Zhao

Dr. Zhiju Zhao

College of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Xingtai University, Xingtai, 054001 P. R. China

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Dr. Xiang-Yu Kong

Dr. Xiang-Yu Kong

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

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Dr. Zhen Zhang

Dr. Zhen Zhang

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

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Dr. Kai Xiao

Dr. Kai Xiao

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

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Prof. Huanting Wang

Prof. Huanting Wang

Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800 Australia

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Prof. Liping Wen

Corresponding Author

Prof. Liping Wen

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 P. R. China

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Prof. Lei Jiang

Prof. Lei Jiang

CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 P. R. China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 P. R. China

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First published: 24 October 2018
Citations: 48

Graphical Abstract

Lighting the way: Inspired by the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin, an artificial light-powered molecular motor was developed by functionalizing synthetic nanochannels with azobenzene derivatives. These nano-confined machines exhibit autonomous selective transport behavior over long distances upon simultaneous irradiation with UV (365 nm) and visible light (430 nm).

Abstract

In nature, biological machines and motors can selectively transport cargoes across the lipid membranes to efficiently perform various physiological functions via ion channels or ion pumps. It is interesting and challengeable to develop artificial motors and machines of nanodimensions to controllably regulate mass transport in compartmentalized systems. In this work, we show a system of artificial molecular motors that uses light energy to perform transmembrane molecule transport through synthetical nanochannels. After functionalizing the polymer nanochannels with azobenzene derivatives, these nanomachines exhibit autonomous selective transport behavior over a long distance upon simultaneous irradiation with UV (365 nm) and visible (430 nm) light. With new strategies or suitable materials for directed molecular movement, such device can be regarded as a precursor of artificial light-driven molecular pumps.

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