Biomembrane Frontiers

This is the second book in the Handbook of Modern Biophysics series, dedicated to fundamental topics and new applications in biophysics. This book on biomembranes covers theory and application and includes problem sets, references and guides for further study.

Biomimetic and bioinspired membranes are the most promising type of membrane for multiple usage scenarios, including commercial separation applications as well as water and wastewater treatment technologies. In recent years, aquaporin biomimetic membranes (ABMs) for water purification have raised considerable interest. These membranes display uniquely favorable properties and outstanding performances, such as diverse interactions, varied selective transport mechanisms, superior stability, high resistance to membrane fouling, and distinct adaptability. Biomimetic membranes would make a significant contribution to alleviate water stress, environmental threats, and energy consumption.

This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact.

New textbooks at all levels of chemistry appear with great regularity. Some fields like basic biochemistry, organic reaction mechanisms, and chemical thermody namics are well represented by many excellent texts, and new or revised editions are published sufficiently often to keep up with progress in research. However, some areas of chemistry, especially many of those taught at the graduate level, suffer from a real lack of up-to-date textbooks. The most serious needs occur in fields that are rapidly changing. Textbooks in these subjects usually have to be written by scientists actually involved in the research which is advancing the field. It is not often easy to persuade such individuals to set time aside to help spread the knowledge they have accumulated. Our goal, in this series, is to pinpoint areas of chemistry where recent progress has outpaced what is covered in any available textbooks, and then seek out and persuade experts in these fields to produce relatively concise but instructive introductions to their fields. These should serve the needs of one semester or one quarter graduate courses in chemistry and biochemistry. In some cases, the availability of texts in active research areas should help stimulate the creation of new courses.

Mechanical Properties of Single Molecules and Polymer Aggregates Rüdiger Berger, Kurt Binder, Gregor Diezemann, Jürgen Gauß, Mark Helm, Katharina Landfester, Wolfgang Paul (Halle), Peter Virnau. Optical Properties of Individual Molecular Aggregates and Nano Particles Thomas Basché, Hans-Jürgen Butt, Gregor Diezemann, Jürgen Gauß, Klaus Müllen, Harald Paulsen, Carsten Sönnichsen, Rudolf Zentel. Structure Formation of Polymeric Building Blocks I: Self-assembly of Copolymers Kurt Binder, Holger Frey, Andreas Kilbinger (Univ. Fribourg), Ute Kolb, Michael Maskos (IMM Mainz), Wolfgang Paul (Univ. Halle), Hans Wolfgang Spiess. Structure Formation of Polymeric Building Blocks II: Complex Polymer Architectures Kurt Binder, Hans Jürgen Butt, Angelika Kühnle, Klaus Müllen, Wolfgang Paul (Univ. Halle), Erwin Schmidt, Manfred Schmidt, Hans Wolfgang Spiess, Thomas Vilgis. Structure Formation of Polymeric Building Blocks III: Polymer Complexes in Biological Applications Kurt Kremer, Heiko Luhmann, Christine Peter, Friederike Schmid, Erwin Schmidt, Manfred Schmidt, Eva Sinner (Univ. of Natural Resources, Vienna), Tanja Weil (Univ. Ulm).

This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of lipid membrane fundamentals and applications. It gives the fundamental physical and biochemical aspects of membrane-related processes in living cells, and then relates them to how scientists are building bioinspired, artifical membrane-based systems such as gene delivery vehicles and synthetic membrane interfaces. It highlights the driving mechanism behind lipid self-assembly, membrane shape evolution, and vesicle trafficing, as well as the role of lipid membrane composition in signalling and the structural aspects of membranes in cellular integrity. Key Features: Includes a broad overview on the role of lipids as structural components of membranes, energy storage molecules, and signaling molecules. Covers lipids in signaling and the role of lipids in everyday life, from diet and health to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Discusses applications in nanotechnology and biomedicine, including liposomes in drug discovery, lipids for in vivo therapeutics, lipid-based sensors, artificial biointerfaces, and synthetic polymers. Includes an exciting section that explores the practical use of Archae lipids, lipids and the origins of life, and future outlook for the field. This book is a great companion for professionals in physics, biochemistry, physical chemistry and material sciences.