Interlocking molecular propellers create stable 'islands' in artificial lipid membranes
Cells are enclosed by a cell membrane, a sophisticated structure mainly made of lipids that is vital for fundamental biological processes. Artificial lipid membranes have many practical applications, such as drug delivery, but engineering their properties is a huge challenge. Now, a team in Japan has found a new way to control membrane structure.
Researchers in Japan have developed a method to create stable "islands" in artificial lipid membranes by utilizing interlocking propeller-shaped molecules. These "islands" are formed by a unique molecule called triptycene, which interlocks with other lipid molecules to form thermally stable domains within an artificial bilayer membrane.
Unlike natural membranes, artificial membranes have difficulty maintaining phase separation due to the ease with which lipids mix. The Japanese researchers overcame this challenge by designing a propeller-shaped lipid mimic molecule with oil-loving tails and water-loving heads. When incorporated into the membrane, the propeller-shaped moieties interlocked with each other, creating stable domains that remained intact at temperatures up to 58°C.
This new approach of using interlocking lipid mimic molecules offers a valuable tool for engineering domains in artificial membrane materials, with potential applications in various functional membrane materials, such as catalysts, specific molecule capture, and drug delivery.
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