Design, Synthesis and Investigation into the Applications of Phospholipid Tubules

Cahill, Brennan

Design, Synthesis and Investigation into the Applications of Phospholipid Tubules

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/46029

Author(s)

Cahill, Brennan

Date Issued

April 13, 2018

Abstract

Phospholipid tubules have surfaced as a primary target to help with many potential medical and technological applications. Previous work focused on modifications to the nonpolar fatty acid side chains and the polar head group of the phospholipid. Currently, modifications to the glycerol backbone of phospholipids are being investigated. This modification helps define the molecular scope of the phospholipid’s ability to form tubules. Potential new tubule-forming lipids in which the “C-O-P” glycerol backbone linkage of the typical tubule forming phospholipid, 1-2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine, otherwise known as DC8,9PC, is replaced by a cyclohexene ring linkage. We hypothesize that this modification will not affect the ability for this “monomer” to form tubules relative to DC8,9PC. Experiments are currently underway to prove this modification will result in tubule formation.

Major

Biochemistry

First Reader(s)

Persichini, Phillip J.