Biologically inspired solid-state nanopores are artificial openings or apertures in thin membranes similar to natural protein ion channels in a lipid bilayer of cell membranes. In solid-state nanopores, a thin insulating membrane with single or multiple po ...
Water is ubiquitous on Earth, playing a critical role for a plethora of structures, processes and chemical reactions in nature. Its unique physicochemical properties originate mainly from its hydrogen bond network. Despite its recognized importance, many a ...
Plasma membranes represent pharmacokinetic barriers for the passive transport of site-specific drugs within cells. When engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are considered as transmembrane drug carriers, the plasma membrane composition can affect passive NP inte ...
Pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) of the Cys-loop receptor family are key players in fast signal transduction throughout the nervous system. They have been shown to be modulated by the lipid environment, however the underlying mechanism is not ...
We show by molecular dynamics that amphiphilic Au nanoparticles (NP) with a diameter of 4 nm generate curvature in phosphatidylcholine lipid membranes. NPs generate negative curvature when they adsorb on the membrane surface but, as they get spontaneously ...
Lipid membranes are complex and dynamic systems which are known to mediate signaling processes between cells and their environment. To do this multiple ion channels and pumps are involved in controlling the in- and out-flux of various ions (K+, Na+, Mg2+, ...
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are amphipathic lipid moieties that make up only 3% of the total lipid content of the cell and are almost exclusively expressed at the Plasma Membrane(PM). They are key drivers of signalling hotspots known as â lipid-raftsâ as ...
DNA nanotechnology has emerged as a promising method for designing spontaneously inserting and fully controllable synthetic ion channels. However, both insertion efficiency and stability of existing DNA-based membrane channels leave much room for improveme ...
Glycosphingolipids are important components of the plasma membrane where they modulate the activities of membrane proteins including signalling receptors. Glycosphingolipid synthesis relies on competing reactions catalysed by Golgi-resident enzymes during ...
Cell-to-cell variability plays a key role in tissue patterning by setting initial asymmetry that primes cell fate decisions. Fluctuations in the activity of regulatory molecules can commit individual cells to divergent differentiation pathways, and cell-to ...
