Graphene-based sensing of oxygen transport through pulmonary membranes
Abstract
Lipid-protein complexes are the basis of pulmonary surfactants covering the respiratory surface and mediating gas exchange in lungs. Cardiolipin is a mitochondrial lipid overexpressed in mammalian lungs infected by bacterial pneumonia. In addition, increased oxygen supply (hyperoxia) is a pathological factor also critical in bacterial pneumonia. In this paper we fabricate a micrometer-size graphene-based sensor to measure oxygen permeation through pulmonary membranes. Combining oxygen sensing, X-ray scattering, and Atomic Force Microscopy, we show that mammalian pulmonary membranes suffer a structural transformation induced by cardiolipin. We observe that cardiolipin promotes the formation of periodic protein–free inter–membrane contacts with rhombohedral symmetry. Membrane contacts, or stalks, promote a significant increase in oxygen gas permeation which may bear significance for alveoli gas exchange imbalance in pneumonia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 27, 2020
- Source ID
- 10.1038/s41467-020-14825-9
Entities
People
- Cecilia Leal
- Marilyn Porras-Gomez
- Mijung Kim
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research