Anion-selective macromolecular artificial ionophores with steroid and fatty acid pendants

Synthetic anion transporters are potential therapeutics for a plethora of cellular ailments including cystic fibrosis, cancer resistance, epilepsy, etc. In this context, cationic macromolecular amphiphiles are gaining revived interest because of their easy synthesis and ample ion channelization through the membrane barrier. Herein, side chain alanine containing cationic polymer amphiphiles with steroid/fatty acid decoration was established to be an efficient anion-selective artificial ionophore. The facile amphiphilicity-assisted assembly makeover of cholic acid containing copolymers channelized the better transmembrane anion transport and efficiency with the maximum selectivity found with NO2- ion.