GPU-Based Massive Parallel Kawasaki Kinetics in the Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulations of Lipid Nanodomains

Cellular Automata in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

We review the modern state of cellular automata (CA) applications for solving practical problems in chemistry and chemical technology. We consider the problems of material structure modeling and prediction of materials' morphology-dependent properties. We review the use of the CA approach for modeling diffusion, crystallization, dissolution, erosion, corrosion, adsorption, and hydration processes. We also consider examples of hybrid CA-based models, which are combinations of various CA with other computational approaches and modeling methods. Finally, we discuss the use of high-performance parallel computing to increase the efficiency of CA.

Membrane Lipid Nanodomains

Lipid membranes can spontaneously organize their components into domains of different sizes and properties. The organization of membrane lipids into nanodomains might potentially play a role in vital functions of cells and organisms. Model membranes represent attractive systems to study lipid nanodomains, which cannot be directly addressed in living cells with the currently available methods. This review summarizes the knowledge on lipid nanodomains in model membranes and exposes how their specific character contrasts with large-scale phase separation. The overview on lipid nanodomains in membranes composed of diverse lipids (e.g., zwitterionic and anionic glycerophospholipids, ceramides, glycosphingolipids) and cholesterol aims to evidence the impact of chemical, electrostatic, and geometric properties of lipids on nanodomain formation. Furthermore, the effects of curvature, asymmetry, and ions on membrane nanodomains are shown to be highly relevant aspects that may also modulate lipid nanodomains in cellular membranes. Potential mechanisms responsible for the formation and dynamics of nanodomains are discussed with support from available theories and computational studies. A brief description of current fluorescence techniques and analytical tools that enabled progress in lipid nanodomain studies is also included. Further directions are proposed to successfully extend this research to cells.