Thermal Responsive Ion Selectivity of Uranyl Peroxide Nanocages: An Inorganic Mimic of K(+) Ion Channels.
An actinyl peroxide cage cluster, Li48+m K12 (OH)m [UO2 (O2 )(OH)]60 (H2 O)n (m≈20 and n≈310; U60 ), discriminates precisely between Na(+) and K(+) ions when heated to certain temperatures, a most essential feature for K(+) selective filters. The U60 clusters demonstrate several other features in common with K(+) ion channels, including passive transport of K(+) ions, a high flux rate, and the dehydration of U60 and K(+) ions. These qualities make U60 (a pure inorganic cluster) a promising ion channel mimic in an aqueous environment. Laser light scattering (LLS) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies revealed that the tailorable ion selectivity of U60 clusters is a result of the thermal responsiveness of the U60 hydration shells.
Department of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA.
Yunyi
Y
Gao
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
Jennifer E S
JE
Szymanowski
Department of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA.
Xinyu
X
Sun
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA. pburns@nd.edu.
Peter C
PC
Burns
Department of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, OH, 44325, USA. tliu@uakron.edu.
Tianbo
T
Liu
ion channels; ion selectivity; self-assembly; uranyl peroxide nanocages