Synthetic ion channels are de novo chemical compounds that insert into lipid bilayers, form pores, and allow ions to flow from one side to the other. They are man-made analogues of natural ion channels, and are thus also known as artificial ion channels. Compared to biological channels, they usually allow fluxes of similar magnitude but are 1. * minuscule in size (less than 5k Dalton vs. > 100k Dalton), 2. * diverse in molecular architecture, and 3. * may rely on diverse supramolecular interactions to pre-form the active, conducting structures.