Supramolecular Channels\nAssembled within Intercellular\nGaps

Tubular structures exist broadly in biological systems\nand exhibit\nimportant functions including mediating cellular communications. The\nconstruction of artificial analogues in living cells would provide\na new strategy for chemotherapy. In this report, a kind of supramolecular\nchannel has been constructed within intercellular gaps by mimicking\nthe assembly process and structure of natural gap junctional channels,\nwhich consist of hydrophobic tubular modules located in the adjacent\ncell membranes and hydrophilic modules within the extracellular space.\nThe assembly of the channels was driven by electrostatic interactions.\nThe channels could inhibit tumor cell invasion by preventing cell\nmigration.