Abstract
The dynamical properties of membranes, i.e., lipid bilayers, in aqueous solvent have been investigated by means of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Because of their amphiphilic nature, lipids dissolved in water can form a wide range of clusters, from spherical globules and worm-like micelles to bilayers and vesicles, where the hydrophobic tails of the lipids are shielded from the surrounding solvent by their hydrophilic heads. The particular
lipids simulated here self-assemble into a bilayer-structure, which is mirror symmetric with respect to its mid-plane. Because bilayers are held together by relative weak non-bonded interaction forces, they behave in many respects as two-dimensional liquids suspended in a three-dimensional solvent matrix. This makes bilayers very susceptible to external forces, which give rise to deformations of the overall shape of the bilayer and to ow within the bilayer.
Original language | English |
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Award date | 22 Nov 2006 |
Place of Publication | Enschede |
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Print ISBNs | 9789036524087 |
Publication status | Published - 22 Nov 2006 |