1. Could you explain the significance of your article to the non-specialist?

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is the most powerful and versatile technique available in chemistry today, and is also widely used in physics, biology, and medicine. In this communication, we introduce an efficient NMR experiment which makes it possible to study molecular properties in solid and soft materials. In particular, we have employed the novel method to investigate the structural and dynamic response of lipids in membrane samples to hydration. It was found that the behaviour of these amphipathic molecules is highly sensitive to the hydration level.

Probing Segmental Order in Lipid Bilayers at Variable Hydration Levels by Amplitude- and Phase-Modulated Cross-Polarization NMR

In the past, most NMR studies of liquid crystalline systems such as fluid phase lipids have exploited the 2H quadrupolar interaction. This approach, however, requires isotopic enrichment which can be both time consuming and expensive. In contrast, the new experiment presented in this work is designed for characterization of unlabelled materials.

3. Where do you see this work developing in the future?

Due to its robustness and general applicability, we believe that the NMR technique discussed here will become a widespread experiment for studies of membranes, other anisotropic liquids, and disordered solids. For instance, we are currently using this and other similar methods to shed light on the interactions between various membrane-bound peptides, proteins and bilayers containing mixed lipids.

4. Are there any particular challenges facing future research in this area?

One of the most important issues in modern natural science is to understand the relationships between molecular structure, dynamics, and function. These relationships are in many cases not easy elucidate experimentally, but we are convinced that advanced NMR spectroscopy will play a very important role in this context.