Artificial water channels mimicking water-channel proteins known as aquaporins present in biological membranes could form the basis for robust as well as efficient desalination membranes. Aquaporins have high water permeability but may be challenging to stabilize in synthetic systems used for applications. Imidazole compounds with urea ribbons can self-assemble into tubular architectures, mutually stabilized by strong hydrogen bonding with inner water in the solid state.  Figure 1 shows permeability data of lipid (PC/PS) and lipid-quartet channel (PC/PS/HC4) vesicles at different lipid-to-quartet ratios (LQR, w/w). When the imidazole compound content increased, permeability of vesicles increased indicating water channel activity. In addition, we are reconstituting these channnels into block copolymer membranes at high packing density, as ideal materials for desalination membranes.  These compounds also self assemble in lipid bilayers and behave like water channels, which indicates that imidazole quartet may have potential to be an applicable water channel for sensors or separation. We are conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the water transport properties of these imidazole-quartet channels using stopped-flow light scattering. 

Functional reconstitution and characterization artificial water channels for desalination

246th National Meeting (2013)

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