Elena Rufeil

My research is focused on studying the structure and dynamics of domains in cell membrane models. It addresses the inter-domain interactions in lipid monolayer, and how these interactions affect the lateral organization and functioning of the biomimetic model membranes. In order to do this, I have combined a comprehensive set of approaches which include: (1) finding analytical results, (2) performing simulations such as Brownian dynamics and Monte-Carlo, and (3) carrying on experiments in Langmuir monolayers and fluorescence microscopy.

Besides, I'm also interested in non equilibrium thermodynamics, both theoretically and experimentally. Currently, I'm working on the study of heat capacity in magnetic and electric systems in the steady state.

Soft Matter - Biophysics - Non equilibrium thermodynamics


Selected Publications

Simulation study of integral equation theory for dipolar density interacting disks

Integral equation theories (IETs) based on the Ornstein--Zernike (OZ) relation can be used as an analytical tool to predict structural and thermodynamic properties and phase behavior of fluids, with low numerical cost. However, there are no studies of the IETs for the dipolar density interaction potential in 2D systems, a main inter-domain interaction in lipid monolayers with phase coexistence.

Phys. Rev. E 108, 064605 (2023)

Influence of Spontaneous Curvature on the Line Tension of Phase-Coexisting Domains in a Lipid Monolayer: A Landau-Ginzburg Model

The line tension between two coexisting phases of a binary lipid monolayer in its fluid state has contributions not only from the chemical mismatch energy between the two different lipid types but also from the elastic deformation of the lipid tails. We investigate to what extent differences in the spontaneous curvature of the two lipids affect the line tension.

J. Chem. Phys. 152, 054707 (2020)

Domain size polydispersity effects on the structural and dynamical properties in lipid monolayers with phase coexistence

In lipid monolayers with phase coexistence, domains of the liquid-condensed phase always present size polydispersity. However, very few theoretical works consider size distribution effects on the monolayer properties. By means of Brownian dynamics simulations, we study the radial distribution function, the average mean square displacement and the average time-dependent self-diffusion coefficient of lipid monolayers with normal distributed size domains.

Soft Matter 14, 1870-1878 (2018)

Dipolar interactions between domains in lipid monolayers at the air-water interface

A great variety of biologically relevant monolayers present phase coexistence characterized by domains formed by lipids in an ordered phase state dispersed in a continuous, disordered phase. From the difference in surface densities between these phases, inter–domain dipolar interactions arise. In this work, we propose a novel way of estimating the dipolar repulsion using a passive method based on the comparison of the pair correlation function obtained from experiments with that obtained from Brownian dynamics simulations of a model system.

Soft Matter, 12, 2469 (2016)

Publications

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elena.rufeil (at) gmail.com

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