Technological watch

In bio?inspired design, biological templates are being mimicked in structure and function with highly controllable synthetic means. Static barrel?like nanopores have been created to enable molecular transport across membranes for use in biosensing, sequencing, and biotechnology. Biological ion channels offer more functions such as dynamic changes of the entire pore shape between open and closed states, and the triggering of the dynamic process with biochemical and physical stimuli. To better capture this complexity, w e have created multi?stimuli and mechanoresponsive biomimetic channels with DNA nanotechnology. O ur nanopores switch between open and closed states, whereby specific binding of DNA and protein molecules as stimuli locks the pores in the open state. Furthermore, the physical stimulus of high transmembrane voltage switches the pores into a closed state. In addition, the pore diameters are larger and more tuneable than those of the natural templates. O ur multi?stimuli responsive and mechanically actuated nanopores mimic several aspects of complex biological channels yet offer easier control over pore size, shape and stimulus response. W e expect the designer pores to be applied in biosensing and synthetic biology.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved