Dynamics and Structures of Phospholipid Assemblies

This thesis studies structures and dynamics of phospholipids vesicles and their interactions with nanoparticles and peptides, with a focus on the following problems: (1) Single-vesicle dynamics for new colloidal physics. Phospholipids vesicles are stabilized by physically adsorbed nanoparticles, and employed as a unique system, in which the vesicles in dense suspensions exhibits dynamical features corresponding to their soft, hollow and polydisperse characteristics. (2) Shape transformation of lipid membrane. Seeking a general understanding of shape deformations associated with biological functions and cell proliferation, morphologies of giant lipid vesicles are studied to reveal their interactions with nanoparticles and pore-forming peptides. Nanoparticle-induced pearling and peptide-induced raft budding of giant lipid vesicles provide facile strategies to reproduce cellular shape transformations in vitro . These studies bridge the cell biology with materials, chemistry and physics.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Materials Science and Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Yan, Yu

Contributors dc:contributor

• Granick, Steve

• Chemistry, Physical
• Biophysics, General
• Engineering, Materials Science

Identifier

(UMI)AAI3395557

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72167