Project Title:

Molecular Modeling of Self-Assembling Skin Lipids

Professor Clare McCabe

Brief Description of Project:

The central problem to dermal and transdermal drug delivery is the low penetration of drugs through the outer most layer of the skin, the stratum corneum (SC). The SC is composed of dead cells (corneocytes) embedded in a lipid-rich environment. For substances such as water and drugs to penetrate into the skin they must pass through the barrier provided by the SC intercellular lipid domains.  Experimental studies have shown that the lipids of the SC are organized in ordered gel or crystalline phases, unlike the typical liquid crystalline phases of most biological membranes, enabling them to function as an effective barrier. The lipid organization can be ascribed to the unique composition of the SC lipids, which is composed of mostly ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol. While much is known about the nature of the skin lipids, a detailed picture of the molecular organization of lipids in the stratum corneum has not been elucidated. An improved understanding of the lipid organization and interactions in the SC would greatly enhance our understanding of the skin barrier and the dermal absorption process. We are developing molecular-based models that can be used to study the lipids of the SC and probe the compositional dependence and molecular arrangement of the lipid molecules.  

Nature of Supervision:

Work with Professor McCabe, a graduate student and postdoctoral associate in her group.

A Brief Research Plan (period is for 10 weeks):

The undergraduate student working on this project will perform molecular simulations to study lipids in the SC and compare the results with experimental data obtained in the literature. The student will gain first hand experience in the use of molecular modeling techniques, visualization and data analysis.

Number of Open Slots:

1

Contact Information: