1.D.233.  The High-density Mechanosensitive Elastomeric Chloride Nanochannel (HMECN) Family 

Mechanosensitive ion channels play crucial roles in physiological activities, where small mechanical stimuli induce membrane tension, trigger the ion channels' deformation, and are further transformed into significant electrochemical signals. Artificial ion channels with stiff moduli have been developed to mimic mechanosensory behaviors, exhibiting an electrochemical response by high-pressure-induced flow. However, fabricating flexible mechanosensitive channels capable of regulating specific ion transport upon dramatic deformation has remained a challenge. Li et al. 2023 demonstrated bioinspired high-density elastomeric channels self-assembled by polyisoprene-b-poly4-vinylpyridine, which exhibit ultra-mechanosensitive chloride ion transport resulting from nanochannel deformation. The PI-formed continuous elastic matrix can transmit external forces into internal tensions, while P4VP forms transmembrane chloride channels that undergo dramatic deformation and respond to mechanical stimuli. The integrated and flexible chloride channels present a dramatic and stable electrochemical signal toward a low pressure of 0.2 mbar. This demonstrates the artificial mechanosensory chloride channels, which could provide a promising avenue for designing flexible and responsive channel systems (Li et al. 2023).