Structure, organization and reactivity in organic monolayers: impacts on material functionality

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This multidisciplinary program focuses on the structure, organization and properties of one molecule thick films either at the interface between air and water or coating a solid surface. The main objectives of this research are to investigate these phenomena using lipids, lipid analogues and surfactants and to use this knowledge to understand biological membrane organization, to develop new materials/surface coatings and to evaluate the effect of environmental pollution on biological systems The physical properties of lipid membranes and surfactant films are critical for understanding biological processes and industrial applications (e.g. emulsion technology, pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, food industry, personal care products etc.). Langmuir monolayers at the air-water interface are commonly used as models of biological membranes, as a means to pre-organize materials for thin films and to understand self-assembly processes at interfaces. The properties of such monomolecular films are governed by a balance of different intermolecular interactions which we will probe using systematic variation of the surfactant/lipid chemical structure and external parameters (temperature, pH, salt). We then use this knowledge of monolayer properties for the design of functional materials, i.e. creating robust thin films coatings which then confer specific functionalities to the surface, e.g. biocompatibility, protein or cell binding capacity. This enables their use in bioapplications such as protein separations, biosensing and detection. Finally, understanding the influence of non-covalent interactions on lipid films enables us to evaluate biological membrane structure and property changes induced by atmospheric pollutants. We study the chemical damage to the lipid-protein film, which coats the lung surface and enables breathing, upon exposure to pollutants common in smog. This chemical damage may be responsible for the immediate impairment of respiratory function on days when air quality is low. This research may lead to new therapies or methods of detecting damaging levels of pollution.