Artificial water channels are an exciting new area of research in nanometer and subnanometer separation membranes. They are inspired by biological channel proteins, in particular biological water channels. In this talk, we will discuss design ideas for artificial channels and the membranes that can be constructed around them. We will discuss classes of channel design inspired by the structure and function of biological water channels and discuss needs and progress in molecular characterization of these channels that parallel biophysical studies into biological water and ion channels. We will also discuss the need for developing planar form factor highly packed biomimetic membranes with these channels based on the recent success with both biological and artificial water channels and discuss the challenges that lie ahead for true molecular separations at the larger scale including the need for coherence between the molecular scale properties of these channels and those of membranes created around them, and the challenge of sealing currently successful layer-by-layer approaches to making these membranes. Finally, we will discuss emerging architectures of these channels and methods to create scalable membranes around artificial water channel architectures.

Artificial water channel membranes: Design ideas from biological and biomimetic membrane research

2019 Fall National Meeting

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