The general aim of the research at the center is to investigate model systems for biological membranes, in particular lipid-bilayer membranes, lipid-protein recombinants, as well as selected real cell membranes in order to unravel, on a molecular level, the relationships between the physical and physico-chemical properties of membranes and their functional behavior.

The Center exploits a multitude of theoretical and experimental methods and techniques. The theoretical methodologies from statistical physics involve analytical calculations, molecular modeling, and computer simulation techniques, such as Molecular Dynamics, Monte Carlo, and Dissipative Particle Dynamics. The experimental methodologies involve thermodynamic measurements (calorimetry, densitometry), monolayer techniques, fluorescence techniques, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, neutron reflectometry, X-ray and neutron diffraction, microscopy and micro-manipulation by micropipettes, as well as ultra-sensitive surface-probe techniques and single-molecule detection methods. These techniques cover a wide range of time and length scales. The study of membrane systems at the single-molecule level by means of atomic force and bioprobe force spectroscopy opens up new avenues in the area of nano-science and nano-biotechnology.

1. Interaction of acylated, prenylated, and anti-microbial peptides with lipid membranes
2. Interaction of different sterols with liposomes
3. Formation of soft-supported model membranes
4. Mechanical properties of electro-formed large lipid vesicles
5. Stabilization of model- and biological membranes by solutes and host molecules
6. Action of phospholipase A₂ on liposomes of different composition
7. Singe-molecule force spectroscopy of DNA fragments and their interaction with LNA
8. Binding of DNA to membranes
9. Structuring of water along interfaces
10. Stability of lipid molecules upon exposure to electrical fields
11. Physics of biological poly-electrolytes
12. Thin films of pulmonary surfactants
13. Structure and dynamics of active membranes
14. Interaction of farnesol with membranes
15. Interaction of alcohols with membranes, red blood cell, and proteins
16. Molecular packing properties of membrane-solute complexes
17. Lipid-protein interactions in membranes
18. Domain structure in membranes with glycosphingolipids and cholesterol
19. Interaction of Acyl-CoA ester and acyl-CoA binding protein with supported membranes
20. Properties of the nuclear lamina
21. Structure-based drug design: molecular docking in the search for novel inhibitors
22. Molecular recognition: interactions between substrate and receptor
23. Physical chemistry of mitosis
24. Large-scale structure of fluid membranes
25. Osmotic properties of polymer-grafted liposomes
26. Development of instrumentation for bioprobe force spectroscopy, micropipette manipulation, and single-molecule AFM force spectroscopy