Scientists channel graphene to understand filtration and ion transport into cells
(PHYSorg.com Nanotechnology)

Tiny pores at a cell`s itemway act as miniature bouncers, letting in some electrically charged atoms-ions-but blocking others. Operating as exquisitely sensitive filters, these `ion channels` play a critical role in biological functions such as muscle contraction and the firing of brain cells. To rapidly transport the right ions through the cell membrane, the tiny channels rely on a complex interplay between the ions and surrounding molecules, particularly water, that have an affinity for the charged atoms. But these molecular processes have traditionally been difficult to model-and therefore to understand-using computers or artificial structures.