Pore performance: artificial nanoscale constructs that mimic the biomolecular transport of the nuclear pore complex
Review article, 2022

The nuclear pore complex is a nanoscale assembly that achieves shuttle-cargo transport of biomolecules: a certain cargo molecule can only pass the barrier if it is attached to a shuttle molecule. In this review we summarize the most important efforts aiming to reproduce this feature in artificial settings. This can be achieved by solid state nanopores that have been functionalized with the most important proteins found in the biological system. Alternatively, the nanopores are chemically modified with synthetic polymers. However, only a few studies have demonstrated a shuttle-cargo transport mechanism and due to cargo leakage, the selectivity is not comparable to that of the biological system. Other recent approaches are based on DNA origami, though biomolecule transport has not yet been studied with these. The highest selectivity has been achieved with macroscopic gels, but they are yet to be scaled down to nano-dimensions. It is concluded that although several interesting studies exist, we are still far from achieving selective and efficient artificial shuttle-cargo transport of biomolecules. Besides being of fundamental interest, such a system could be potentially useful in bioanalytical devices.

Author

John Andersson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Justas Svirelis

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Jesper Medin

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Julia Järlebark

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Rebekah Hailes

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Andreas Dahlin

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Nanoscale Advances

25160230 (eISSN)

Vol. 4 23 4925-4937

Subject Categories

Physical Chemistry

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Analytical Chemistry

DOI

10.1039/d2na00389a

More information

Latest update

3/7/2024 9