Neural membrane signaling platforms

Strobe photography mapping of cell membrane potential with nanosecond resolution

The ability to directly observe membrane potential charging dynamics across a full microscopic field of view is vital for understanding interactions between a biological system and a given electrical stimulus. Accurate empirical knowledge of cell membrane electrodynamics will enable validation of fundamental hypotheses posited by the single shell model, which includes the degree of voltage change across a membrane and cellular sensitivity to external electric field non-uniformity and directionality. To this end, we have developed a high-speed strobe microscopy system with a time resolution of ~ 6 ns that allows us to acquire time-sequential data for temporally repeatable events (non-injurious electrostimulation). The imagery from this system allows for direct comparison of membrane voltage change to both computationally simulated external electric fields and time-dependent membrane charging models. Acquisition of a full microscope field of view enables the selection of data from multiple cell locations experiencing different electrical fields in a single image sequence for analysis. Using this system, more realistic membrane parameters can be estimated from living cells to better inform predictive models. As a proof of concept, we present evidence that within the range of membrane conductivity used in simulation literature, higher values are likely more valid.

The effect of neuroleptic drugs on DPPC/sphingomyelin/cholesterol membranes

The hydrophobic nature of neuroleptic drugs renders that these molecules interact not only with protein receptors, but also with the lipids constituting the membrane bilayer. We present a systematic study of the effect of seven neuroleptic drugs on a biomembrane model composed of DPPC, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were used to monitor the gel-fluid phase transition of the lipid bilayer at three pH values and also as a function of drug concentration. The implementation of a new methodology to mix lipids homogeneously allowed us to assemble bilayers completely free of organic solvents. The seven neuroleptics were: trifluoperazine, haloperidol decanoate, clozapine, quetiapine, olanzapine, aripiprazole, and amisulpride. The DSC results show that the insertion of the drug into the bilayer produces a fluidization and a disordering of the bilayer. The bilayer perturbation is qualitatively the same for all the studied drugs, but quantitatively different. The driving force for the neuroleptic drug to place itself in the lipid bilayer is entropic in nature, signaling to the importance of the size and geometry of the drugs. The drug protonated species produce stronger effects than their non-protonated forms. At high concentrations two of the neuroleptics revert the fluidization effect and another completely abolishes the gel-fluid transition. The DSC data and the associated discussion contribute to the understanding of the interactions between neuroleptic drugs and lipid membranes.

Assembly of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals with Solid Crystal's Structural Order Translated from the Lipid Rafts in Cell Membranes

Self-assembly offers a powerful way to control the complexity and hierarchy of nanoscale materials, and promises to create a diverse range of emergent properties. Successful syntheses that allow a delicate structural design of building units play an important role. However, as can be learned from many cellular processes and functions, coself-assembly using logically chosen additives should be equally effective in designing self-assembly. Herein I show that, translated from the dynamic nanoscale assemblies in cell membranes known as lipid rafts, coself-assembly of 1-decanol into cetyltrimethylammonium chloride micelles for the assembly of lyotropic liquid crystals generates new structural complexity and hierarchy, and a surprising property that is emerging from it. Designing the intermolecular forces in the way that cholesterol interacts with sphingolipids promotes the synergistic balance between the flexibility and rigidity, and the unique molecular recognition for silicic acid, followed by the micelle coalescence. This very much resembles the assembly process of the lipid rafts in cell membranes and triggers orders of magnitude of sharp increases in X-ray diffraction intensity. The analysis of the diffraction patterns shows that the structural order of these liquid crystals matches that of solid crystals, often of single crystals. Furthermore, the assembly of the liquid crystals promotes a substantial increase in the condensation rate of silicic acids by guiding them to form a silicate trimer along the surface of micelles. This very much resembles the role of the lipid rafts that sharply increases the reaction rate of biomolecules by guiding them to form discrete species along the surface of membranes. This finding demonstrates that it is possible to translate the key features of cellular processes and functions into artificial self-assembling systems of our choice using the building units that are readily available, thus creating novel soft materials.

Rafts, Nanoparticles and Neural Disease

This review examines the role of membrane rafts in neural disease as a rationale for drug targeting utilizing lipid-based nanoparticles. The article begins with an overview of methodological issues involving the existence, sizes, and lifetimes of rafts, and then examines raft function in the etiologies of three major neural diseases-epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease-selected as promising candidates for raft-based therapeutics. Raft-targeting drug delivery systems involving liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles are then examined in detail.