Synthetic ion channels via self-assembly: a route for embedding porous polyoxometalate nanocapsules in lipid bilayer membranes.

ABSTRACT: Porous polyoxometalate nanocapsules of Keplerate type are known to exhibit the functionality of biological ion channels; however, their use as an artificial ion channel is tempered by the high negative charge of the capsules, which renders their spontaneous incorporation into a lipid bilayer membrane unlikely. In this Letter we report coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations that demonstrate a route for embedding negatively charged nanocapsules into lipid bilayer membranes via self-assembly. A homogeneous mixture of water, cationic detergent, and phospholipid was observed to spontaneously self-assemble around the nanocapsule into a layered, liposome-like structure, where the nanocapsule was enveloped by a layer of cationic detergent followed by a layer of phospholipid. Fusion of such

SUBMITTER: Carr R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2885702 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature