A software tool for simulating spatial separation and kinetics in biological membranes

Dan Valeriu Nicolau Jr.; Kevin Burrage

doi:10.1117/12.585052

16 February 2005 A software tool for simulating spatial separation and kinetics in biological membranes

Proceedings Volume 5651, Biomedical Applications of Micro- and Nanoengineering II; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.585052
Event: Smart Materials, Nano-, and Micro-Smart Systems, 2004, Sydney, Australia

Abstract

Self-segregation and compartimentalisation are observed experimentally to occur spontaneously on live membranes as well as reconstructed model membranes. It is believed that many of these processes are caused or supported by anomalous diffusive behaviours of biomolecules on membranes due to the complex and heterogeneous nature of these environments. These phenomena are on the one hand of great interest in biology, since they may be an important way for biological systems to selectively localize receptors, regulate signaling or modulate kinetics; and on the other, they provide an inspiration for engineering designs that mimick natural systems. We present an interactive software package we are developing for the purpose of simulating such processes numerically using a fundamental Monte Carlo approach. This program includes the ability to simulate kinetics and mass transport in the presence of either mobile or immobile obstacles and other relevant structures such as liquid-ordered lipid microdomains. We also present preliminary simulation results regarding the selective spatial localization and chemical kinetics modulating power of immobile obstacles on the membrane, obtained using the program.

Citation Download Citation

Dan Valeriu Nicolau Jr. and Kevin Burrage "A software tool for simulating spatial separation and kinetics in biological membranes", Proc. SPIE 5651, Biomedical Applications of Micro- and Nanoengineering II, (16 February 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.585052

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available