Structural organisation of artificial water channels

We propose to use GISAX and X-ray reflectometry measurements to characterise the structural organisation of artificial water channels in a planar lipid bilayer formed by a set of molecules (I-quartet imidazole) that have demonstrated to have high transport potentiality and ionic selectivity. These molecules aim to mimic natural aquaporine-like behaviour, and have strong technological potentiality in the field of water purification, for example. The experiments are intended to support and complement the past experimental and computational characterisations. The ultimate goal is to unveil the correlation among the fine structural in-membrane organisation and transport properties in order to understand the microscopic mechanism of water flow. Such an understanding will favor further chemical design and optimisation of these novel artificial water channels.