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Stressing membranes
Cell membranes contain mechano-sensitive lipids and proteins which transduce forces into intracellular biochemical pathways related to various physiological and pathophsyiological processes. Artificial membranes are used in drug and gene delivery schemes. The structures of both natural and artificial membranes result from a balance of intermolecular and externally applied forces to maintain their structural integrity and physiological function. While membrane mechanics and lipid dynamics in membranes have been studied extensively separately, there are no reported studies to date on the role of membrane tension in modulating experimentally-determined lipid dynamics. Furthermore, there exists no quantitative model for the changes in molecular dynamics, structure, and hydration in lipid bilayers exposed to externally-applied forces. |
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