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Published in Langmuir (ACS Publication): Enthalpic Effects of Chain Length and Unsaturation on Water Permeability Across Droplet Bilayers of Homologous Monoglycerides

Sunghee Lee, Ph.D. • Jan 23, 2017

Dr. Lee’s recent paper, titled “Enthalpic Effects of Chain Length and Unsaturation on Water Permeability Across Droplet Bilayers of Homologous Monoglycerides” has been published in Langmuir, a publication of the American Chemical Society.

The paper is coauthored by three undergraduates, Maria Lopez (’17 Biochemistry), Sue Ellen Evanglista (’17 Chemistry), and Melissa Morales (’16 Chemistry). In this paper, a deeper understanding of unassisted passive transport of water permeation across lipid membranes was attained by studies using a droplet interface bilayer (DIB) formed by the contact of two aqueous droplets in an immiscible solvent containing bilayer-forming surfactant. We have investigated the effect of acyl chain structure of amphiphilic monoglycerides on the osmotic permeability of water across DIB membranes composed of these monoglycerides, where the acyl chain length (C14 to C24), number of double bonds (1–4), and the position of double bond are varied systematically along the acyl chains. Both permeability values and activation energies have been extracted for water transport across a lipid bilayer formed of a homologous series of lipids, allowing us to make ready comparisons between the different lipids and potentially better elucidate the contributions that molecular motifs make to the permeation process. Congratulations to the research team!

By Sunghee Lee 19 Apr, 2024
I am thrilled to congratulate and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our undergraduate research group, the Project Symphony, at this year's Iona Scholars Day! Our team of dedicated students has worked tirelessly, and their hard work and commitment have truly paid off. The presentations showcased a wide range of impactful research projects that not only demonstrate the academic excellence of our research group members but also their passion for discovery and learning. Each project was a testament to the creativity and hardwork of the Project Symphony research team. One of the most inspiring aspects of the day was seeing how the Project Symphony members engaged with their research topics. Your enthusiasm was contagious, and it was clear that you had developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the chosen fields of topic. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each member of the Project Symphony members for your exceptional presentations. Your hard work, dedication, and passion for research have truly set you apart, and I am incredibly proud of all that you have accomplished. As I reflect on Iona Scholars Day and look towards the future, I am excited to see where our Project Symphony research group will go next. I have no doubt that you will continue to achieve great things and make meaningful contributions to your field of study. Once again, congratulations to the Project Symphony on a successful Scholars Day! Your hard work, dedication, and passion for research are truly inspiring, and I can't wait to see what you will accomplish next. -Dr. Lee
By Sunghee Lee 13 Apr, 2024
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our latest research paper titled "Concentration-Dependent Effects of Curcumin on Membrane Permeability and Structure" in the ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science ( https://doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00093 ) . This publication represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and collaboration within our research group. In this paper, we delve into how phytochemical curcumin interacts with lipid bilayer. Our findings not only contribute to the existing body of knowledge in this field but also have the potential for successful translation of curcumin into effective medicine. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the members of our research group for their invaluable contributions, and NSF for funding support. We look forward to continuing our research efforts and sharing more exciting discoveries in the future. Stay tuned for further updates from our research group! Go Project Symphony!
By Sunghee Lee 01 Mar, 2024
The Project Symphony team publishes another research paper in peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Physical Chemistry B The article titled “Differential Effects of Soy Isoflavones on the Biophysical Properties of Model Membranes” is published in Journal of Physical Chemistry B, an American Chemical Society publication. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c08390 This paper is coauthored by nine undergraduates, Jamie Gudyka ('24 Biochemistry), Jasmin Ceja-Vega ('23 Biochemistry), Katherine Ivanchenko (’23 Chemistry), Wilber Perla (’25 Chemistry), Christopher Poust (’25 Chemistry), Alondra Gamez Hernandez ('23 Biochemistry), Colleen Clarke (’23 Chemistry), Shakinah Silverberg (’24 Biology/Chemistry), Escarlin Perez ('22 Biochemistry) with Dr. Sunghee Lee. Congratulations to the Project Symphony!
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