LABORATORY OF MEMBRANE BIOPHYSICS

Research lines

Water and its states of aggregation in membranes and aqueous systems.

Taking advantage of the sensitivity of the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum (750–2500 nm) to the strength of the O–H bond, we investigate the interactions between water and components that perturb its state of aggregation, such as membrane phospholipids. These studies are performed by varying the type and/or concentration of these components, including phospholipids, steroids, and solutes, and using water as a probe to assess the effects of these components on the biophysical properties of the system under investigation.
Using multivariate analytical methods, such as Principal Component Analysis, Partial Least Squares, Principal Coordinates Regression, Logistic Regression, and Multiple Linear Regression, we analyze the spectra to characterize alterations in the hydrogen-bonding network.