Solvation shell dynamics is a critical determinant of protein and enzyme functions. Here we investigate how the dynamics of the solvation shell changes for molecules embedded in lipid membranes during an acoustic impulse . Solvation sensitive fluorescence probes, Laurdan, embedded in multi-lamellar lipid vesicles in water,  were exposed to broadband pressure impulses of the order of 1MPa peak amplitude and 10{\mu}s pulse duration. Corresponding changes in emission spectrum of the dye were observed simultaneously across two different wavelengths at sub-microsecond  resolution. The experiments show that changes in the emission spectrum  and hence the fluctuations of the solvation shell are given by the thermodynamic state change during the process. Therefore, the study suggests that acoustic fields  can potentially modulate the kinetics of channels and proteins embedded in lipid membranes by controlling the state dependent fluctuations .
Ultrasound is increasingly being used to modulate the properties of biological membranes for applications in drug delivery and neuromodulation. While various studies have investigated the mechanical aspect of the interaction such as acoustic absorption and membrane deformation, it is not clear how these effects transduce into biological functions, for example, changes in the permeability or the enzymatic activity of the membrane. A critical aspect of the activity of an enzyme is the thermal fluctuations of its solvation or hydration shell. Thermal fluctuations are also known to be directly related to membrane permeability. Here solvation shell changes of lipid membranes subject to an acoustic impulse were investigated using a fluorescence probe, Laurdan. Laurdan was embedded in multi-lamellar lipid vesicles in water, which were exposed to broadband pressure impulses of the order of 1MPa peak amplitude and 10{\mu}s pulse duration. An instrument was developed to monitor changes in the emission spectrum of the dye at two wavelengths with sub-microsecond temporal resolution. The experiments show that changes in the emission spectrum , and hence the fluctuations of the solvation shell , are related to the changes in the thermodynamic state of the membrane and correlated with the compression and rarefaction of the incident sound wave. The results suggest that acoustic fields affect the state of a lipid membrane and therefore can potentially modulate the kinetics of channels and proteins embedded in the membrane .
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Solvation shell dynamics is a critical determinant of protein and enzyme functions. Here we investigate how the dynamics of the solvation shell changes for molecules embedded in lipid membranes during
Ultrasound is increasingly being used to modulate the properties of biological membranes for applications in drug delivery and neuromodulation. While various studies have investigated the mechanical aspect of the interaction such as acoustic absorption and membrane deformation, it is not clear how these effects transduce into biological functions, for example, changes in the permeability or the enzymatic activity of the membrane. A critical aspect of the activity of an enzyme is the thermal fluctuations of its solvation or hydration shell. Thermal fluctuations are also known to be directly related to membrane permeability. Here solvation shell changes of lipid membranes subject to
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