Viral infection, nutrient delivery, and neurological function are all possible because of a single biological mechanism: fusion of one lipid membrane to another.  Also, filling membrane pouches with potent pharmaceuticals and selectively fusing them to cells promises to be an efficient vehicle for drug-delivery.  While some conditions that promote fusion have been identified, its physical process is not understood; consequently membrane fusion is not being actively used as the biotechnology tool it could be. 

    Our hypothesis is that the macroscopic mechanical energy of the membrane plays a governing role in facilitating fusion.  Two recent cross-disciplinary advances enable our investigation.  First, we have recently developed curvature-controlled platforms that support phospholipid tension-tunable membranes.  Second, we have coupled these membrane constructs to optical detection devices.  We will introduce vesicles of controlled sizes to these curved membranes and count fusion events as a function of curvature and environmental parameters.  These experiments could establish a model for membrane fusion that would be instrumental in explaining how fusion-enabling proteins function, as well as provide design rules for liposome formulations for targeted drug delivery.

Membrane Fusion