title: Mimicking pH-Gated Ionic Channels by Polyelectrolyte Complex Confinement Inside a Single Nanopore.
abstract: Biological channels have served as inspiration to design stimuli-response artificial nanopores. Here we propose an original approach to design a pH-gate nanopore based on polyethylenimine and chondroitin-4-sulfate (ChS) layer-by-layer self-assembly. This approach is interesting because it is rapid and permits monitoring in real time of functionalization. The study of ionic transport through these single nanopores reveals a selectivity on anions and pH-gate properties at low salt concentration. It is open at pH below 4 or 5 depending on salt concentration. These properties are explained by the modification of both charge and conformation of ChS as well as swelling of the polyelectrolyte complex.
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Yixuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Janot
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche sur les Ions, les Matériaux et la Photonique, UMR6252 CEA-CNRS-ENSICAEN, 6 Boulevard du Maréchal Juin, 14050 Caen Cedex 4, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balanzat
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes, UMR5635 UM ENSM CNRS, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0779-3384
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balme