Published-Structural determination of model phospholipid membranes by Raman spectroscopy

Sunghee Lee • January 20, 2022

The research group of Dr. Sunghee Lee at Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, has just published a peer-reviewed education article, titled “Structural Determination of Model Phospholipid Membranes by Raman Spectroscopy: Laboratory Experiment”, appearing in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, a publication of Wiley (https://doi.org/10.1002/bmb.21603)

 

This article provides an experimental module designed to understand cell membranes through integrated concepts of chemical structure, molecular interactions, and membrane structural properties, using Raman spectroscopy of model cell membranes.

 

The main analytical tool used to investigate these systems is confocal Raman microspectrometer, an instrument acquired via a National Science Foundation (NSF)-Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant award (NSF-MRI-1427705). Since its introduction, the confocal Raman microspectrometer has been a central workforce for the enhancement of research and education at Iona College.

 

Many research papers in peer-reviewed journals have been published in recent years using confocal Raman spectrometer from the research group of Dr. Sunghee Lee, including "Ibuprofen and the Phosphatidylcholine Bilayer: Membrane Water Permeability in the Presence and Absence of Cholesterol" and "Molecular Organization in Mixed SOPC and SDPC Model Membranes: Water Permeability Studies of Polyunsaturated Lipid Bilayer".

 

However, the publication of this article has a special meaning, because, as an educational article, its techniques can be readily implemented to enhance students learning in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and related sciences such as Biophysics and Cell Biology, and has great potential for wide dissemination to the education community.

 

This project is a result of diligent work over the course of many years, and is coauthored by five undergraduates, Joseph Giancaspro (’20 Biochemistry), Patrick Scollan ('21 Biochemistry), Juan Rosario ('21 Biochemistry), Elizabeth Miller (’19 Biochemistry), Samuel Braziel (’18 Chemistry), under the guidance of Dr. Sunghee Lee. Samuel Braziel is the founding member of the Raman project, and who spent the most of his undergraduate research time to establish the protocols and initial parameterization, is now full-time employed in industry as an analytical scientist. Both Elizabeth Miller and Joseph Giancaspro, who dedicated themselves to developing optimum conditions of the method, are in Medical School, and Patrick Scollan (MS program in science education) and Juan Rosario (heading to Medical School) improved the application to the cell membrane models. This is truly an amazing harmonious team effort. Congratulations to the team!

Exploring Graphene Oxide–Cholesterol Interactions Across Model Membranes

By Sunghee Lee • February 23, 2026
We’re pleased to announce our new collaborative publication, “Study of the Interaction Between Graphene Oxide and Cholesterol Using Different Artificial Membrane Models,” conducted in partnership with colleagues in Italy. This work investigates how graphene oxide—an emerging nanomaterial with biomedical promise—interacts with cholesterol within lipid membranes. By employing various artificial membrane systems, we examined how membrane composition and organization influence these interactions, revealing key insights into the physicochemical mechanisms at play. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of how nanomaterials engage with biological membranes, providing valuable guidance for the safe and effective design of graphene-based biomedical applications. Congratulations to all team members and our Italian collaborators on this exciting achievement! The full article is available here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021979726002821 .

New Insights into Serotonin’s Relationship with Cell Membranes

By Sunghee Lee • February 23, 2026
In this study, we explored how the membrane environment shapes the behavior of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and neural signaling. By systematically varying lipid composition in model membranes, we uncovered how differences in lipid charge, fluidity, and packing influence serotonin’s nonspecific interactions with bilayers. Our findings shed new light on the physical chemistry of neurotransmitter–membrane interactions, with potential implications for understanding serotonin’s diverse physiological functions and its role in receptor signaling. Congratulations to all co-authors for their outstanding work and collaboration! The article can be accessed here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsptsci.5c00767

Recent Publication: How Tiny Molecules Shape the Flexibility of Cell Membranes

By Sunghee Lee • November 15, 2025
Our research team has uncovered new details about how small oil-like molecules influence the thickness and flexibility of cell membranes. These membranes, built from layers of lipids, contain tiny pockets of free space that help control how soft, dense, or permeable the membrane is. Our research team found that some smaller molecules can fit into these layers, making the membrane thicker, while larger or crystallizing ones get pushed out, leading to thinning. These changes help explain how different molecules inside a membrane affect its overall structure and function. This study not only expands our understanding of how biological membranes work but also points to new possibilities for creating custom-designed synthetic membranes for research and technology. Read more details here: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcb.5c06296 Congratulations to the Project Symphpony team for their exciting findings and continued dedication to advancing membrane science!
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