US-Germany Dissertation Enhancement: Dynamics of biomembranes in electric fields

美德论文强化：电场中生物膜的动力学

• 批准号: 1032280
• 负责人: Petia Vlahovska
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2012-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1032280&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: US; Germany; Dissertation; Enhancement; Dynamics

Strong pulsed electric fields can induce transient perforation of the cell membrane which enables the delivery of exogenous molecules (drugs, proteins, and plasmids) into living cells. The physical mechanisms of this process are poorly understood. This project is centered on the idea that electrohydrodynamic flows exist and play an essential role in the non-equilibrium dynamics of biomembranes. The fluid nature of the membrane allows lipids to flow within it. We hypothesize that electric fields induce lateral redistribution of lipids in the fluid bilayer membranes, which gives rise to the complex dynamics observed in experiments with model membranes. This project is an integral part of Dartmouth student Paul Salipante's Ph.D. thesis aimed at understanding the shape and stability of interfaces in electric fields. A comparison between two types of interfaces, simple (such as oil/water) and complex (such as lipid membranes), will reveal salient features of the lipid bilayer electromechanics. While the interrogation of simple interfaces involves relatively unsophisticated experimentation, which could be done in the PI's Laboratory, the investigation of the membranes requires equipment which is not available at Dartmouth College. The membrane biophysics lab at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPI-KG) led by Rumiana Dimova possesses state-of-the-art equipment which will enable the membrane experiments. This award will support Mr. Salipante to spend one year at MPI-KG collaborating with Dr. Dimova and her team. The experience in MPI-KG's vibrant, international research environment will contribute to Mr. Salipante's education as a globally-engaged engineer and enhance his skills for international collaboration. This award is funded jointly by the Office of International Science and Engineering and the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems.

强脉冲电场可以诱导细胞膜的瞬时穿孔，这使得能够将外源分子（药物、蛋白质和质粒）递送到活细胞中。这个过程的物理机制知之甚少。 该项目的核心思想是电流体动力学流动的存在，并在生物膜的非平衡动力学中发挥重要作用。膜的流体性质允许脂质在其中流动。我们假设电场诱导脂质在流体双层膜中的横向再分布，这引起了在模型膜实验中观察到的复杂动力学。这个项目是达特茅斯学生保罗·萨利潘特博士学位的一个组成部分。本论文旨在了解电场中界面的形状和稳定性。两种类型的界面，简单的（如油/水）和复杂的（如脂膜）之间的比较，将揭示脂双层机电的显着特点。虽然简单界面的研究涉及相对简单的实验，可以在PI的实验室中完成，但膜的研究需要达特茅斯学院无法提供的设备。 由Rumiana Dimova领导的Max Planck胶体和界面研究所（MPI-KG）的膜生物物理实验室拥有最先进的设备，可以进行膜实验。 该奖项将支持Salipante先生在MPI-KG与Dimova博士及其团队合作一年。 在MPI-KG充满活力的国际研究环境中的经验将有助于Salipante先生作为一名全球参与的工程师的教育，并提高他的国际合作技能。 该奖项由国际科学与工程办公室和化学，生物工程，环境和运输系统部门共同资助。