R. Dimova

Effect of leaflet asymmetry on the stretching elasticity of lipid bilayers with phosphatidic acid

This study examines how lipid asymmetry affects membrane elasticity in GUVs, finding that asymmetric membranes are less stretchable than symmetric ones and that oil impurities alter membrane thickness and interleaflet coupling.

Photoswitchable endocytosis of biomolecular condensates in giant vesicles

This study shows light-controlled endocytosis of biomolecular condensates in giant vesicles using photoswitchable lipids, demonstrating reversible and tunable membrane-condensate interactions.

Adhesion energy controls lipid binding-mediated endocytosis

The paper shows that multivalent lipid binding by globular particles induces membrane deformation and clathrin-independent endocytosis, with adhesion energy determining the threshold for internalization.

Tunable biomimetic bacterial membranes from binary and ternary lipid mixtures and their application in antimicrobial testing

This study creates tunable biomimetic bacterial membranes using binary and ternary lipid mixtures to test antimicrobial agents like daptomycin.

Bilayer charge asymmetry and oil residues destabilize membranes upon poration

The paper investigates how anionic lipid asymmetry and oil residues affect the stability of GUVs after poration, finding that asymmetric membranes are more prone to destabilization.

Nonspecific membrane-matrix interactions influence diffusivity of lipid vesicles in hydrogels

This study investigates how membrane-matrix interactions affect lipid vesicle diffusivity in hydrogels, showing that charge and deformability influence diffusion, and PEGylation enhances it beyond electrostatic effects.

Biomolecular condensates modulate membrane lipid packing and hydration

This study investigates how biomolecular condensates affect membrane lipid packing and hydration using glycinin and giant vesicles, revealing a correlation between wetting affinity and lipid packing.

Photomanipulation of minimal synthetic cells: area increase, softening and interleaflet coupling of membrane models doped with azobenzene-lipid photoswitches

This study uses azobenzene-lipid photoswitches to manipulate membrane properties of synthetic cells using light, showing shape changes, softening, and altered electrical properties.

Kinetic relaxation of giant vesicles validates diffusional softening in a binary lipid mixture

The paper validates that lipid diffusion reduces membrane stiffness in binary lipid mixtures by analyzing undulation relaxation in giant unilamellar vesicles.

Wetting and complex remodeling of membranes by biomolecular condensates

This study investigates how protein condensates interact with membranes, leading to morphological changes and introduces a theoretical framework to describe these interactions.

Stepwise remodelling and subcompartment formation in individual vesicles by three ESCRT-III proteins

This study uses single-vesicle experiments to show how three ESCRT-III proteins reshape membranes by modulating stiffness and curvature, forming intraluminal vesicles without ATP.

Binding of His-tagged fluorophores to lipid bilayers and giant vesicles

The paper studies the binding of His-tagged fluorophores to lipid bilayers and giant vesicles, finding that 6H-FITC is quenched by anchor lipids and has a lower dissociation constant than 6H-GFP.

GM1 asymmetry in the membrane stabilizes pores

This study shows that GM1 asymmetry in cell membranes stabilizes pores by slowing pore resealing through nanotube formation and reduced edge tension.

Controlled adhesion, membrane pinning and vesicle transport by Janus particles

This study uses Janus particles to control adhesion and transport in artificial cell membranes through electrostatic and magnetic interactions.

Super-resolution imaging of highly curved membrane structures in giant vesicles encapsulating molecular condensates

This study uses super-resolution microscopy to image highly curved membrane structures in synthetic cells, revealing membrane properties and their agreement with theoretical predictions.

A vesicle microrheometer for high-throughput viscosity measurements of lipid and polymer membranes

This paper introduces a vesicle microrheometer to measure membrane viscosity, finding that lipid and polymer bilayers exhibit Newtonian or shear-thinning behavior and that polarization affects viscosity.

The ESCRT-III machinery participates in the production of extracellular vesicles and protein export during Plasmodium falciparum infection

This study shows that Plasmodium falciparum uses its ESCRT-III machinery, recruited via PfBro1 and PfVps32/PfVps60, to produce extracellular vesicles during infection.

To close or to collapse: the role of charges on membrane stability upon pore formation

This study investigates how membrane surface charge and medium composition affect pore stability, showing that charged membranes are more prone to collapse and that calcium ions can reverse this effect.

Super-elasticity of plasma- and synthetic membranes by coupling of membrane asymmetry and liquid-liquid phase separation

The paper demonstrates that preserving plasma membrane structure and composition during isolation enables vesicles with cell-like elasticity, achieved through membrane asymmetry and liquid-liquid phase separation.

Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 Blocks Fusion of Diverse Enveloped Viruses by Locally Altering Mechanical Properties of Cell Membranes

This study shows IFITM3 inhibits viral fusion by altering membrane curvature and stiffness, with its amphipathic helix playing a key role in these effects.

Fluctuation spectroscopy of giant unilamellar vesicles using confocal and phase contrast microscopy

This study compares fluctuation spectroscopy results from confocal and phase contrast microscopy on giant unilamellar vesicles, finding consistent bending modulus values and discussing potential discrepancies.

Mechanical properties of plasma membrane vesicles correlate with lipid order and viscosity and depend on cell density

The paper investigates how plasma membrane properties like order, viscosity, and bending rigidity change with cell density using giant plasma membrane vesicles.