Interaction of amphiphilic aggregates with cells of the immune system

The cell membrane - its composition, integrity, and function - is central to many biological processes, ranging from cell adherence and contact inhibition, to the cell-cell interactions involved in many immunological responses. While great progress has been made in understanding the biological and biochemical mechanisms responsible for cellular functions and interactions, similar strides have been taken in dissecting and quantifying the chemical and physical forces that govern the shape and structure of membranes(1). Here, Robert Ashman and his colleagues discuss principles derived from theory and experimentation in colloid and surface chemistry, the insights they may provide into the mechanisms of membrane function, and the means by which these membrane functions may be modified.