How lipids suppress cavitation in biological fluids

Šako, Marin (avtor), Kanduč, Matej (avtor)

Hypothesis: Cavitation in water under tension is often initiated at nanoscale hydrophobic surface defects that stabilize preexisting nanobubbles. We hypothesize that amphiphilic molecules, such as polar lipids, can adsorb onto these defects and suppress cavitation by removing nanobubble nucleation sites. Simulations: To test this mechanism, we performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations in combination with classical nucleation theory to model lipid bilayers and monolayer coatings at hydrophobic surfaces containing nanoscale pits and to investigate their response to applied negative pressures. Findings: We find that lipids readily adsorb onto hydrophobic surfaces, conform to nanoscale features, and eliminate bubble-hosting cavities. This passivation shifts the cavitation-limiting step from nanobubble expansion at defects to rupture of lipid bilayers, which exhibit much higher cavitation resistance. These results provide a molecular basis for how amphiphilic additives enhance the stability of aqueous liquids against cavitation, even in the presence of unavoidable surface imperfections. This mechanism also offers a physically grounded explanation for how vascular plants sustain sap transport under substantial negative pressures despite structural heterogeneities in their water-conducting vessels.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: lipid monolayer, lipid bilayer, bubbles, cavitation, molecular dynamics simulation
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FMF - Fakulteta za matematiko in fiziko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: 9 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 703, pt. 1, art. 139286
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182773
• UDK: 532
• ISSN pri članku: 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.139286
• COBISS.SI-ID: 254592515
• Datum objave v RUL: 22.05.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Journal of colloid and interface science
• Skrajšan naslov: J. colloid interface sci.
• Založnik: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1095-7103
• COBISS.SI-ID: 527041561

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: fluidi, kavitacija, hidrodinamika

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0055
• Naslov: Biofizika polimerov, membran, gelov, koloidov in celic

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: J1-4382
• Naslov: Stabilnost bioloških tekočin pod natezno obremenitvijo