From: 2025-12-01 14:15 to 15:00
Place: Lecturehall KC:G
Contact: tommy [dot] nylander [at] fkem1 [dot] lu [dot] se

A Physical Chemistry seminar by Professor Alessandra Luchini, Department of Physics and Geology, University of Perugia, Italy

When: 1 December, 14:15-15:00

Where: Lecturehall KC:G. Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/69479832902

Title: Investigating biological membranes: insights from neutron reflectometry

Abstract: Biological membranes are complex systems composed of hundreds of different lipid species and proteins. Because of their complexity they are difficult to extract in an intact form and therefore to study with biophysical methods. Therefore, most of our knowledge about their structure and function is based on the structural and dynamic characterization of membrane models such as supported lipid bilayers (SLBs). In this specific context neutron reflectometry plays a central role providing detailed structural information with a few Å resolution on the arrangement of lipids within the SLBs. 

Here, SLBs decorated with extracellular matrix components (ECM), and specifically chondroitin sulfate, will be discussed in the context of mimicking key features of the mammalian cell surface. Investigation of these SLBs with neutron reflectometry and data analysis, supported by MD simulation, enabled formulating new hypothesis on the interplay between lipids in the plasma membrane and the ECM. 

Technical advancement in the use of polarized neutron reflectometry to soft matter systems will be discussed as well. The implementation of new substrates with a magnetic reference layer strengthens the implementation of this technique to the structural investigation of SLBs and enables new applications relevant for the European Spallation Source (ESS) instrumentation.