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Membrane Fluidity

Membrane Fluidity

Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

Published on: February 9, 2018

Polysaccharide functionalization reduces lipid vesicle stiffness.

Kevin Jahnke¹, Marko Pavlovic¹, Wentao Xu¹

¹School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 21, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed a novel method to attach polysaccharides to lipid vesicles, finding they unexpectedly softened the membranes. This technique offers new ways to control drug delivery vehicle properties and mimic the cell

Keywords:

cholesterol giant unilamellar lipid vesicles membrane biophysics micropipette aspiration polysaccharides

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2025

Preparation, Purification, and Use of Fatty Acid-containing Liposomes

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Published on: February 9, 2018

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure

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Obtention of Giant Unilamellar Hybrid Vesicles by Electroformation and Measurement of their Mechanical Properties by Micropipette Aspiration

Obtention of Giant Unilamellar Hybrid Vesicles by Electroformation and Measurement of their Mechanical Properties by Micropipette Aspiration

Published on: January 19, 2020

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Materials Science
Biochemistry

Background:

Lipid vesicle properties are crucial for drug delivery applications.
Vesicle characteristics are influenced by lipid composition and polymer tethering.
Polysaccharide functionalization of lipid vesicles is an underexplored area.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a general method for functionalizing lipid vesicles with polysaccharides.
To investigate the impact of polysaccharide functionalization on vesicle membrane mechanics.
To compare the effects of polysaccharides with synthetic polymers like polyethylene glycol.

Main Methods:

Functionalization of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) with polysaccharides via cholesterol binding.
Micropipette aspiration technique to measure membrane mechanics.
Comparative analysis of mechanical properties between polysaccharide-functionalized and polyethylene glycol-functionalized GUVs.

Main Results:

Polysaccharide functionalization unexpectedly softened GUVs with fluid-like membranes.
Polyethylene glycol functionalization did not reduce the stretching modulus of GUVs.
Demonstrated a method to create membrane-bound polysaccharide meshworks.

Conclusions:

Polysaccharide functionalization offers a novel approach to tune the mechanical properties of lipid vesicles.
This method can be applied to create biomimetic structures like the glycocalyx.
The findings have implications for designing advanced drug delivery vehicles with tailored stability and integrity.