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Role of the real first interface in regulating ionic signal of nanochannels

Author

Listed:
  • Meihua Lin

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Jing Zhao

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Xiaoqing Yi

    (Gannan Medical University)

  • Yuling Xiao

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Zhiwei Shang

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Lei Xu

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Xin Lei

    (Beihang University)

  • Jing Pan

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Yu Huang

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Xiaojin Zhang

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Fan Xia

    (China University of Geosciences)

Abstract

Mass transport through nanochannels involves interactions across six distinct regions, including the “real first interface” (RFI), a region formed by functional elements extending into the bulk solution and their surrounding bulk solution. While previous studies have revealed the roles of the bulk solution, outer surface, and inner wall, the contribution of RFI remains unclear due to its susceptibility to interference from neighboring regions, which makes its individual role difficult to isolate. Herein, we show that a diblock DNA probe can be used to independently investigate the RFI by keeping the properties of the other five regions constant. Our results demonstrate that the RFI’s role in regulating ionic current in our system is mainly determined by charge effects. These findings highlight the distinct and previously underappreciated role of the RFI in nanochannel transport and suggest that resolving its function may provide the final piece in understanding ion transport mechanisms in confined systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Meihua Lin & Jing Zhao & Xiaoqing Yi & Yuling Xiao & Zhiwei Shang & Lei Xu & Xin Lei & Jing Pan & Yu Huang & Xiaojin Zhang & Fan Xia, 2025. "Role of the real first interface in regulating ionic signal of nanochannels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62077-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62077-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pengcheng Gao & Qun Ma & Defang Ding & Dagui Wang & Xiaoding Lou & Tianyou Zhai & Fan Xia, 2018. "Distinct functional elements for outer-surface anti-interference and inner-wall ion gating of nanochannels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Frank Alber & Svetlana Dokudovskaya & Liesbeth M. Veenhoff & Wenzhu Zhang & Julia Kipper & Damien Devos & Adisetyantari Suprapto & Orit Karni-Schmidt & Rosemary Williams & Brian T. Chait & Andrej Sali, 2007. "The molecular architecture of the nuclear pore complex," Nature, Nature, vol. 450(7170), pages 695-701, November.
    3. Weichao Peng & Shuaihu Yan & Ke Zhou & Hai-Chen Wu & Lei Liu & Yuliang Zhao, 2023. "High-resolution discrimination of homologous and isomeric proteinogenic amino acids in nanopore sensors with ultrashort single-walled carbon nanotubes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Kyloon Chuah & Yanfang Wu & S. R. C. Vivekchand & Katharina Gaus & Peter J. Reece & Adam P. Micolich & J. Justin Gooding, 2019. "Nanopore blockade sensors for ultrasensitive detection of proteins in complex biological samples," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Qun Ma & Yu Li & Rongsheng Wang & Hongquan Xu & Qiujiao Du & Pengcheng Gao & Fan Xia, 2021. "Towards explicit regulating-ion-transport: nanochannels with only function-elements at outer-surface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Yao Sun & Sen Chen & Xiaoya Chen & Yuling Xu & Siyun Zhang & Qingying Ouyang & Guangfu Yang & Haibing Li, 2019. "A highly selective and recyclable NO-responsive nanochannel based on a spiroring opening−closing reaction strategy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    7. Xinchun Li & Tianyou Zhai & Pengcheng Gao & Hongli Cheng & Ruizuo Hou & Xiaoding Lou & Fan Xia, 2018. "Publisher Correction: Role of outer surface probes for regulating ion gating of nanochannels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-1, December.
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