Research data for article: Alignment of lyotropic liquid crystals using magnetic nanoparticles improves ionic transport through built-in peptide ion channels

The characteristics of the incorporation of gramicidin membrane ion channels and hFe3O4NPs in the lipidic hexagonal structure using SAXS and cryo-TEM methods is reported. The conductive characteristics of freestanding films of lipidic hexagonal mesophases, both with and without gramicidin potassium channels, utilizing a range of electrochemical techniques, including impedance spectroscopy, normal pulse voltammetry, and chronoamperometry was studied. A state-of-the-art breakthrough in enhancing ion transport in lyotropic liquid crystals as matrices for integral proteins and peptides is reported. The remarkable efficacy of membranes composed of hexagonal lipid mesophases embedded with K+transporting peptides is shown. This enhancement is achieved through doping with hFe3O4NPs and exposure to a magnetic field. The intricate interplay between the conductive properties of the lipidic hexagonal structure, hFe3O4NPs, gramicidin incorporation, and the influence of Ca2+on K+channels is presented. A new direction in ion channel studies and biomimetic membrane investigations, presenting a versatile model for biomimetic membranes with unprecedented ion transport capabilities under an appropriately oriented magnetic field is reported.