Ion channels are tiny openings that control the movement of charged particles in living organisms. These narrow pathways are essential for many biological functions. In some cases, their tightest sections measure only a few angstroms across, roughly the width of individual atoms. Reproducing structures this small with precision and consistency remains one of the toughest challenges in nanotechnology.
Researchers at The University of Osaka have now taken a major step toward that goal. Writing in Nature Communications, the team describes how they used a miniature electrochemical reactor to produce pores that approach subnanometer dimensions.
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