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

强脉冲电场可诱导细胞膜瞬间穿孔，使外源分子（药物、蛋白质和质粒）进入活细胞。这一过程的物理机制尚不清楚。本项目的核心思想是电流体动力学的存在，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。我们假设电场诱导液体双层膜中的脂质侧向重新分布，这导致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Paul Salipante博士论文的一个组成部分，旨在理解电场中界面的形状和稳定性。比较两种类型的界面，简单（如油/水）和复杂（如脂质膜），将揭示脂质双分子层电力学的显著特征。对简单界面的研究涉及相对简单的实验，这可以在PI的实验室完成，而对膜的研究需要达特茅斯学院没有的设备。由Rumiana Dimova领导的马克斯普朗克胶体和界面研究所（MPI-KG）的膜生物物理实验室拥有最先进的设备，将使膜实验成为可能。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萨潘特先生作为一名全球工程师的教育，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以及化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门联合资助。

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.