The phase behaviour is significantly reduced as compared with that of triton X-100. The differences and similarities between emulsions prepared from surfactant systems and proteins is being investigated correlating microstructure to emulsion stability and mechanism of destabilisation. The research aims to understand further the physiological controls that oversee fertility in the female. This will ultimately, open the way for new methods in contraception and therapies for infertility. Understanding the roles of the regulating peptides will allow us to control their activities, which can be achieved by introducing antagonists as offsets or agonists to mimic or augment their functions.
Ovulation is triggered by the release of a hormone in the brain via two regulating peptides.
We will watch the effects of these peptides on individual living cells in real time using SPM to determine their specific functions. SPM image of a cell trapped in a nanostructured platform. Amphiphilic bicontinuous cubic phases have been likened to the infinite periodic minimal surfaces in differential geometry. Single crystal crystallographic data has been obtained for the three known bicontinuous cubic phases. Theoretical diffraction patterns are being obtained modelling these phases as minimal surfaces.