title: Computational modeling of transport in synthetic nanotubes.
abstract: Synthetic nanotubes that have the ability to broadly mimic the function of biological ion channels have extraordinary potential for various applications, from ultrasensitive biosensors to efficient water purification devices. As a result of their immense potential, the design and fabrication of such synthetic nanotubes is rapidly gaining momentum. We briefly review recent theoretical and experimental studies on nanoscale cylindrical hollow tubes constructed from carbon, boron, and nitrogen atoms that are able to selectively transport water molecules, cations (positively charged ions), or anions (negatively charged ions) similar to various biological ion channels.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This review discusses the current status of synthetic nanotube research, including recent theoretical and experimental studies on nanoscale cylindrical hollow tubes constructed from carbon, boron, and nitrogen atoms that are able to selectively transport water molecules, cations or anions similar to biological ion channels.
authors.affiliation: Computational Biophysics Group, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. tamsyn.hilder@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Tamsyn A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hilder
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Shin-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D007477:Ions / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D007477:Ions; D014867:Water