Adsorption, molecular exchange and defect formation in membranes

The past year has seen significant advances in our understanding of the key factors involved in determining whether a macromolecule or colloidal particle can reach, bind to, and absorb into lipid bilayer membranes. The highlights include the need to combine both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to achieve stable binding, the influence of membrane dipoles, the molecular-scale filter provided by grafted polymers, and the recognition that surfactants and peptides form defects that depend on their aggregated state in the membrane.