Nanopore structures in nature play a crucial role in performing many sophisticated functions such as signal transduction, mass transport, ion channel, and enzyme reaction. Inspired by pore-forming proteins, considerable effort has been made to design self-assembling molecules that are able to form nanostructures with internal pores in aqueous media. These nanostructures offer ample opportunity for applications because their internal pores are able to perform a number of unique functions required for a confined nanospace. However, unlike nanopore assembly in nature, the synthetic nanopore structures are mostly based on a fixed pore that impedes performing adaptable regulation of properties to environmental change. This limitation can be overcome by integration of hydrophilic oligo(ethylene oxide) dendrons into aromatic building blocks for nanopore self-assembly, because the dendritic chains undergo large conformational changes triggered by environmental change. The transition of the oligoether chains triggers the aromatic nanopore assembly to undergo reversible pore deformation through closing, squeezing, and shape change without structural collapse. These switching properties allow the aromatic nanopore structures to perform adaptable, complex functions which are difficult to achieve using a fixed pore assembly.

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可切换的芳香纳米孔结构：功能和应用

自然界中的纳米孔结构在执行许多复杂的功能（例如信号转导、传质、离子通道和酶反应）方面起着至关重要的作用。受成孔蛋白质的启发，人们已经做出了相当大的努力来设计能够在水性介质中形成具有内部孔的纳米结构的自组装分子。这些纳米结构为应用提供了充足的机会，因为它们的内部孔隙能够执行受限纳米空间所需的许多独特功能。然而，与自然界中的纳米孔组装不同，合成纳米孔结构主要基于固定孔，这阻碍了对环境变化的特性适应性调节。这种限制可以通过将亲水性低聚（环氧乙烷）树突整合到用于纳米孔自组装的芳香结构单元中来克服，因为树突链会经历由环境变化引发的巨大构象变化。低聚醚链的转变触发了芳香族纳米孔组件通过闭合、挤压和形状变化而发生可逆的孔变形，而不会发生结构坍塌。这些转换特性使芳香族纳米孔结构能够执行使用固定孔组件难以实现的适应性强的复杂功能。低聚醚链的转变触发了芳香族纳米孔组件通过闭合、挤压和形状变化而发生可逆的孔变形，而不会发生结构坍塌。这些转换特性使芳香族纳米孔结构能够执行使用固定孔组件难以实现的适应性强的复杂功能。低聚醚链的转变触发了芳香族纳米孔组件通过闭合、挤压和形状变化而发生可逆的孔变形，而不会发生结构坍塌。这些转换特性使芳香族纳米孔结构能够执行使用固定孔组件难以实现的适应性强的复杂功能。