Presentation day

Tuesday  3:10 PM

 

TITLE

Self-assembly of biological lipids and liquid crystalline droplets

 

Abstract

Thermotropic liquid crystals, when confined within micrometer- and nanometer-sized
droplets that are dispersed in aqueous phases, represent a promising class of optically responsive “beads”
that can be functionalized in a variety of ways to make them interact with biological systems. This
presentation will address several different perspectives on self-assembly of biological lipids and droplets of
nematic liquid crystals. Fundamental issues related to the spatial positioning of the lipids will be addressed,
a phenomenon that reflects a complex interplay of surface interactions, the elasticity of liquid crystals and
the presence of topological defects in confined liquid crystalline systems. Specifically, the triggering of
ordering transitions in liquid crystalline droplets by exquisitely low concentration of bacterial lipids
(endotoxins) will be described. The formation of interfacial assemblies of oligopeptides on interfaces of
liquid crystals will be presented. Finally, the utility of liquid crystalline droplets for analysis of native
microvesicles that are shed by mammalian cells will be addressed. Unresolved fundamental challenges
and long-term technological opportunities will be outlined.