Artificial Transmembrane Channels for Selective Ascorbic Acid Transport and Bioorthogonal Signal Transduction

L Linlin Shi (State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China) J Jingjing Ma L Linshuang Wang (State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China) L Lingyu Zhao W Wen Zhao (School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, China.) J Jianlei Li (State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China) N Nan Lv X Xiaoyu Chang (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State key laboratory of antiviral drugs) P Pengyang Xin (State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ascorbic acid (AA), an essential bioactive molecule, plays a pivotal part in maintaining physiological functions in cells and organisms, and its intracellular homeostasis is regulated by specific natural transporter proteins. Here we report a class of artificial transmembrane channels constructed from discrete covalent organic nanotubes that mediate the selective transmembrane transport of AA. X‐ray structural analysis and vesicle‐based fluorescence assays confirmed that these molecules adopt a rigid tubular architecture with a near‐nanometer pore size, enabling their insertion into lipid bilayers to form stable transmembrane channels that mediate efficient AA transport. Importantly, AA transport mediated by these molecules can initiate bioorthogonal reactions, thereby converting an external chemical stimulus into a fluorescent signal within a biomimetic system.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 31
Published July 27, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (9)

L

Linlin Shi

State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China

J

Jingjing Ma

L

Linshuang Wang

State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China

L

Lingyu Zhao

W

Wen Zhao

School of Materials Science and Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, China.

J

Jianlei Li

State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China

N

Nan Lv

X

Xiaoyu Chang

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State key laboratory of antiviral drugs

P

Pengyang Xin

State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs Pingyuan Laboratory School of Pharmaceutical Sciences School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Henan Normal University Xinxiang China