An open and shut case for palladium

摘要

A synthetic pore that lets sodium cross imitation cell membranes is 'a significant step towards tissue-mimetic materials,' say UK scientists. Scientists at the University of Manchester have synthesised channels in vesicles - synthetic cell mimics - which open and close when palladium(II) ions are added or removed. The open channels span the vesicles' lipid outer membrane to allow sodium into or out of the structure.