Artificial anion transporters in bilayer membranes

Curr Drug Discov Technol. 2008 Jun;5(2):86-97. doi: 10.2174/157016308784746319.

Abstract

Anion transport across phospholipid membrane is a typical supramolecular function involving dynamic recognition of the substrate during the whole translocation process. Supramolecular chemists, taking inspiration by the natural anion transporters, have designed artificial systems able to mimic, at the functional level, several features of the natural ion channels. The scope of this research is twofold: on one hand to get insight on the molecular basis of recognition and transport, and on the other hand to get control of the biomedical relevant processes. The present review focuses on the synthetic systems promoting anion transport, covering both artificial channels and carriers that operate in phospholipid membrane. The design principles of such systems will be discussed together with the potential biomedical applications.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anion Transport Proteins / chemistry*
  • Anion Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism
  • Drug Design
  • Humans
  • Ion Transport
  • Ionophores / chemistry*
  • Ionophores / metabolism
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phospholipids / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Technology, Pharmaceutical / methods

Substances

  • Anion Transport Proteins
  • Drug Carriers
  • Ionophores
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Phospholipids