Exploring the Impact of Lipid Domain Size on the Lifetime: A Dissipative Particle Dynamics Study

Abstract

In this research, we have used the dissipative particle dynamics (DPD), a mesoscopic simulation technique, in order to investigate the dynamics of lipid domains in near critical temperature. Our specific focus has been on exploring the influence of lipid domain size on its lifetime, which mimics the behavior of lipid rafts within cellular membranes. The lipid membranes used in this study were composed of saturated and unsaturated lipids, which have been immersed in water. Through the simulation of these membranes close to their critical temperature, we have successfully generated fluctuating domains that mimic the lipid rafts observed in cellular systems. We have proposed a method to obtain the lifetime of the fluctuating domains by analyzing the sizes of the lipid domains at specific intervals of time. Our investigations have revealed a linear correlation between the initial size of the lipid domain and its lifetime. Our research finding give an insight into the underlying mechanisms that govern lipid rafts and their vital role in various cellular processes.