Nanostructures in Biological Systems

Aleš Iglič is professor of biophysics and head of the Laboratory of Biophysics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. His research interests are in electrostatics, biomechanics, and statistical physics of biological membranes and lipid nanostructures.Veronika Kralj-Iglič is professor of biophysics and biomechanics and head of the Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana. Her research interests are in electrostatics, biomechanics, and statistical physics of biological membranes and membrane nanostructures.Damjana Drobne is professor of environmental toxicology and zoology and head of the group for nanobiology and nanotoxicology, University of Ljubljana. She has more than 20 years expertise in toxicity testing with environmental organisms. She has co-authored and authored more than 90 original scientific publications so far.

• Introduction: Nanostructures and Nanoparticles in Biological Systems. Description of Systems Composed of Large Number of Constituents. Lipid Nanostructures. Physics of Lipid Micro- and Nanostructures. Nanotubes of Biological Membranes. Spherical Budding of Biological Membrane. Exogenous Membrane Attached Nanoparticles. Membrane Electrostatics. Membranous Nanostructures as in vivo Cell-to-Cell Transport Mechanisms. Lipid Vesicles and Cells as Tools in Nanotoxicity Studies.

"Nanostructures in Biological Systems is a marvelous scientific appraisal of the state of the art of membrane biophysics. By building a strong bridge between physics and biological sciences, the authors succeed in accomplishing something that is exceptionally rare in scientific literature. Enjoy to be introduced into the wonder world of biological surfaces and experience their continuous conversions, such as in the fusion of lipid vesicles or as observed in direct cell-to-cell communication."— Prof. Michael Rappolt, University of Leeds, UK"Nanostructures in Biological Systems will become a cornerstone reference for membrane biophysicists. It covers the gap between two scientific worlds: one originating from physics, focusing on model membrane systems with controlled composition and environment, and the second from biology, working with membranes from living cells. It introduces the readers to the complex but fascinating study of natural or model membrane systems and is a wonderful opportunity for both communities working in biophysics. They will gain a common knowledge in a field where interdisciplinarity should be highly valuable." — Prof. Philippe Méléard, ENSC-Rennes, France