Berlin 2024 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 8: Poster Session Ia

BP 8.16: Poster

Monday, March 18, 2024, 18:00–20:30, Poster C

Cavitation in lipid systems: Insights from molecular dynamics — •Marin Šako and Matej Kanduč — Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Liquids under tension are found in many systems in nature as well as in technology. Examples include lithotripsy and sonoporation of cell membranes, octopus suckers, catapulting mechanisms of fern spores, and the hydraulic system in plants. Such systems under these metastable conditions are vulnerable to cavitation. Lipid membranes, as part of cell membranes, are found in almost every biological system. The study of cavity formation in lipid membranes under tension plays an important role in the research of biological systems. In this context, lipid-lipid adhesion energy, as well as adhesion energy between lipids and other surfaces, is a crucial physical property as it tells us a lot about the strength of interaction between lipids and other matter.

In this poster I present our work on adhesion of lipid systems obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. More specifically, I will examine the lipid-lipid adhesion energy as well as lipid-surface adhesion energy and how it depends on the surface properties. Additionally, I will discuss how the adhesion energy and surface properties affect cavitation in lipid bilayers and lipid-substrate systems.

Keywords: adhesion energy; lipid bilayer; cavitation; molecular dynamics