Artificial Water Channels (AWCs) have been developed during the last decade with the hope to construct artificial analogues of Aquaporin (AQP) proteins. Their osmotic water permeability are in the range of natural transporters, making them suitable candidates that can potentially transport water at lower energy and operating cost. Compared to AQPs, AWCs would have several potential advantages, such as improved stability, simple and scalable fabrication and higher functional density when confined in 2D membrane arrays. The first knowledge gap between AWCs and AQPs is in the mimicry of the complete set of functionality, in terms of obtaining systems capable of simultaneous water permeation and salt rejection, while not forfeiting the advantage of simplicity. Despite incipient developments, major problems still remain unsolved, such as their up-scaling preparation procedures from laboratory studies to square meters needed for large industrial membrane applications. However, the flow of structural information from molecular level through nanoscale dimensions, towards highly ordered ultradense macroscopic arrays of AWCs is conceptually possible. Successfully transitioning from synthetic molecules to functional channels and materials could lead to a new generation of membranes for water purification. Moving AWCs into products in the commercial arena is now the main objective of research in this new-born field.

在过去的十年中已经开发了人工水通道（AWC），以期构建水通道蛋白（AQP）蛋白质的人工类似物。它们的渗透水渗透性在天然转运蛋白的范围内，使其成为可能以较低的能量和运营成本潜在地输送水的合适候选物。与AQP相比，AWC在局限在2D膜阵列中时将具有一些潜在的优势，例如，稳定性更高，制造简单且可扩展，功能密度更高。AWC和AQP之间的第一个知识鸿沟是模仿整套功能，即获得能够同时进行水渗透和脱盐的系统，同时又不丧失简单性的优势。尽管事态发展初期，但主要问题仍未解决，例如他们的放大制备程序，从实验室研究到大型工业膜应用所需的平方米。然而，从分子水平到纳米尺度的结构信息向AWC的高度有序超密集宏观阵列的流动在概念上是可能的。从合成分子到功能性通道和材料的成功过渡可能会导致新一代用于水净化的膜。现在，将AWC投放到商业领域的产品已经成为这个新兴领域的主要研究目标。从概念上讲，朝着高度有序的超密集AWC宏观阵列发展是可能的。从合成分子到功能性通道和材料的成功过渡可能会导致新一代用于水净化的膜。现在，将AWC投放到商业领域的产品已经成为这个新兴领域的主要研究目标。从概念上讲，朝着高度有序的超密集AWC宏观阵列方向发展是可能的。从合成分子到功能性通道和材料的成功过渡可能会导致新一代用于水净化的膜。现在，将AWC投放到商业领域的产品已经成为这个新兴领域的主要研究目标。