Fall 2015

Seminars are held on Mondays from 2:30 - 3:30PM in Cullimore Hall, Room 611, unless noted otherwise. For questions about the seminar schedule, please contact David Shirokoff.


Date: November 30, 2015

Speaker: Mu-Ping Nieh
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering,
University of Connecticut

University Profile

Title: "Properties and Applications of Well-Defined Self-Assembled Lipid Nanodiscs (Bicelles)"

Abstract:

Model biomembranes, “bicelles”, are composed of long-chain and short-chain lipids. They from uniform-sized discoidal structure and have been widely applied for the structural characterization of membrane-associated proteins as lipid substrates. Recently, we have also identified novel properties of bicelles such as high cellular uptake, easy encapsulation of hydrophobic molecules and strong interaction with amphiphilic polymers, making them a suitable platform for high-efficiency theranostic delivery and instrument-free biosensing. In spite of extensive studies on the system in the past, the fundamental self-assembly mechanism and kinetics of bicelles remained mostly unclear. Lacking of such knowledge greatly hampers the optimization of their applications. In this presentation, I will talk about how molecular architecture and phase behavior of the lipids and bicellar transport kinetics affect their final morphology. Furthermore, the stability of bicelles and individual lipid transfer rate between bicelles will be reported based on systematic studies using small angle neutron scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. Based on the research outcomes, we conclude that the structure and stability of bicelles are controllable by several physical parameters and that they have great potential to serve as the next generation delivery nanocarriers for therapeutics and diagnostics.