Volume 64, Issue 28 e202501634
Research Article

Supramolecular Ion Channels to Engineer Zn2+ Ion Transport Mediated Chemical-to-Optical Signal Transduction

Soumya Srimayee

Soumya Srimayee

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039 India

Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Biswa Mohan Prusty

Biswa Mohan Prusty

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039 India

Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Mrinal Kanti Kar

Mrinal Kanti Kar

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039 India

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Prof. Mathias Winterhalter

Corresponding Author

Prof. Mathias Winterhalter

Institute for Nanostructure and Solid-State Physics, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany

School of Science, Constructor University, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Prof. Debasis Manna

Corresponding Author

Prof. Debasis Manna

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, 781039 India

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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First published: 29 April 2025

Graphical Abstract

A molecular communication system has been developed to monitor Zn2+ ion transport-mediated chemical-to-optical signal amplification process.

Abstract

Artificial ion channels have significant potential for various applications, including molecular communication, bio-sensing, and constructing artificial cells. In this report, we demonstrated the development of a molecular communication system that transports ions across the lipid bilayers via the formation of supramolecular ion channels and harnesses chemical reactions to overcome the challenges of executing signal-processing functions at the molecular level. The potent ionophore self-assembles into nanochannels within the lipid bilayers and selectively transports Zn2+ ions. The movement of Zn2+ ions through these supramolecular ion channels enables the in situ generation of a water-soluble catalytic system with tyrosine. This catalytic system promotes esterase-like activity, generating fluorescent reporters from non-fluorescent ester-based compounds within the intravesicular environment. Furthermore, this process indicates the formation of a three-input AND logic gate in the fluorescence mode, allowing the monitoring of the chemical-to-optical signal amplification process akin to biological counterparts. Developing these molecular communication systems to replicate the complexity of natural cellular processes opens up exciting opportunities for designing advanced biomimetic tools and exploring the fundamental principles underlying cellular communication.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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