title: Host-guest supramolecular chemistry in solid-state nanopores: potassium-driven modulation of ionic transport in nanofluidic diodes.
abstract: We describe the use of asymmetric nanopores decorated with crown ethers for constructing robust signal-responsive chemical devices. The modification of single conical nanopores with 18-crown-6 units led to a nanodevice whose electronic readout, derived from the transmembrane ion current, can be finely tuned over a wide range of K(+) concentrations. The electrostatic characteristics of the nanopore environment arising from host-guest ion-recognition processes taking place on the pore walls are responsible for tuning the transmembrane ionic transport and the rectification properties of the pore. This work illustrates the potential and versatility of host-guest chemistry, in combination with nanofluidic elements, as a key enabler to achieve addressable chemical nanodevices mimicking the ion transport properties and gating functions of specific biological channels.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas (INIFTA), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET, CC. 16 Suc. 4, 1900 La Plata, Argentina. azzaroni@inifta.unlp.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez-Mitta
authors.forename: Alberto G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Albesa
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Toimil-Molares
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Azzaroni
mesh_terms: D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D058608:Nanopores / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D011188:Potassium