We have observed fluid-fluid coexistence in 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) membrane containing 1-decanol, using different experimental techniques and membrane morphologies. This phase behavior is reversible and occurs over a temperature range just above the chain melting transition temperature of the membrane. Although earlier experimental studies and computer simulations have shown the ability of decanol to enhance lipid chain ordering, its potential to induce fluid-fluid coexistence in membranes has not been hitherto recognized. Being the only binary membrane system known so far to exhibit fluid-fluid coexistence, the present system can serve as a simple model to gain a better understanding of mechanisms that drive this unusual phase behavior, which is believed to play an important role in the functioning of cell membranes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0sm01417f | DOI Listing |
Radiol Case Rep
March 2025
Pediatric Radiology, HOMI-Fundación Hospital Pediátrico la Misericordia, Bogotá, Colombia.
The coexistence of fibrous dysplasia and aneurysmal bone cyst in the craniofacial region is extremely rare. This article presents a unique case involving the skull base, diagnosed using computed tomography and magnetic resonance. Imaging revealed a characteristic expansile mass with a ground-glass appearance alongside cystic areas exhibiting fluid-fluid levels, indicative of fibrous dysplasia and aneurysmal bone cyst.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Chem Phys
June 2024
Soft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
One method for computationally determining phase boundaries is to explicitly simulate a direct coexistence between the two phases of interest. Although this approach works very well for fluid-fluid coexistences, it is often considered to be less useful for fluid-crystal transitions, as additional care must be taken to prevent the simulation boundaries from imposing unwanted strains on the crystal phase. Here, we present a simple adaptation to the direct coexistence method that nonetheless allows us to obtain highly accurate predictions of fluid-crystal coexistence conditions, assuming that a fluid-crystal interface can be readily simulated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Ophthalmol
June 2023
Department of Ophthalmology, County Hospital of Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden.
Background: Cataract and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) often co-exist and both contribute to impaired vision. It has been debated whether cataract surgery can increase nAMD activity. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the impact of cataract surgery on visual acuity, treatment intensity for nAMD and macular morphology in patients with on-going treatment for nAMD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
June 2023
Soft Condensed Matter Group, Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru 560080, India.
We present two binary lipid-sterol membrane systems that exhibit fluid-fluid coexistence. Partial phase diagrams of binary mixtures of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine with 25-hydroxyxholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol, determined from small-angle X-ray scattering and fluorescence microscopy studies, show closed-loop fluid-fluid immiscibility gaps, with the appearance of a single fluid phase both at higher and lower temperatures. Computer simulations suggest that this unusual phase behavior results from the ability of these oxysterol molecules to take different orientations in the membrane depending on the temperature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Chem Phys
September 2022
Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA.
Fluid polyamorphism, the existence of multiple amorphous fluid states in a single-component system, has been observed or predicted in a variety of substances. A remarkable example of this phenomenon is the fluid-fluid phase transition (FFPT) in high-pressure hydrogen between insulating and conducting high-density fluids. This transition is induced by the reversible dimerization/dissociation of the molecular and atomistic states of hydrogen.
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