Applications of Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy for the Study of Lipid Membranes with Polyphilic Guest (Macro)Molecules

Abstract

The incorporation of polymers or smaller complex molecules into lipid membranes allows for property modifications or the introduction of new functional elements. The corresponding molecular-scale details, such as changes in dynamics or features of potential supramolecular structures, can be studied by a variety of solid-state NMR techniques. Here, we review various approaches to characterizing the structure and dynamics of the guest molecules as well as the lipid phase structure and dynamics by different high-resolution magic-angle spinning proton and 13C NMR experiments as well as static 31P NMR experiments. Special emphasis is placed upon the incorporation of novel synthetic polyphilic molecules such as shape-persistent T- and X-shaped molecules as well as di- and tri-block copolymers. Most of the systems studied feature dynamic heterogeneities, for instance those arising from the coexistence of different phases; possibilities for a quantitative assessment are of particular concern.

Keywords

• lipid membranes
• lipid–polymer composites
• solid-state NMR spectroscopy
• order parameter