Graduation Year

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Physics

Major Professor

Sagar A. Pandit, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Ghanim Ullah, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Robert S. Hoy, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jianjun Pan, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Yicheng Tu, Ph.D.

Keywords

Ether Lipids, Ionic Solvents, Lipid Bilayer, Molecular Simulations

Abstract

Lipid bilayers are important biological structures. The changes in bilayer properties are induced by the composition of the bilayer as well as the solvent. In this work, we study the effects of different molecular makeups of lipids and ionic solvents with molecular dynamics simulations to determine their effect on the bilayer interface. In particular, we look at how different carbon chain bindings affect water viscosity at the interface and allow for a less permeable bilayer. Additionally, we examine the changes to the bilayer due to the presence of the most biologically relevant salt ions. Lastly, we show how the pharmacological ion lithium may replace magnesium due to overlapping solvation shells.

Included in

Physics Commons

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