Dynamic Surface Tension Enhances the Stability of Nanobubbles in Xylem Sap.

ABSTRACT: Air seeded nanobubbles have recently been observed within tree sap under negative pressure. They are stabilized by an as yet unidentified process, although some embolize their vessels in extreme circumstances. Current literature suggests that a varying surface tension helps bubbles survive, but few direct measurements of this quantity have been made. Here, we present calculations of dynamic surface tension for two biologically relevant lipids using molecular dynamics simulations. We find that glycolipid monolayers resist expansion proportionally to the rate of expansion. Their surface tension increases with the tension applied, in a similar way to the viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid. In contrast, a prototypical phospholipid was equally resistant to all applied tensions, suggesting that

SUBMITTER: Ingram S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8716698 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature