Research Projects

Bimolecular condensation is a crucial process that regulates complex biomolecular processes. This proposal aims to experimentally investigate the modification of the structure and dynamics of interfacial solvation during condensation using THz time domain (TTDs) and FIR-FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The study will monitor the explicit change in protein/lipid hydration at different aggregated states during the condensation process, and its possible modulation by altering solvent physical parameters upon the addition of excipients. THz spectroscopy probes the low frequency collective vibration modes of water, making it sensitive to global network dynamics around different polar and nonpolar moieties of biomolecules. The study will extend to the presence of externally added excipients, which could change the physical properties of water and condensation dynamics. The study will estimate energetic parameters associated with the condensation process using temperature-dependent TTDs and FIR-FTIR measurements, leading to a fundamental understanding of solvation change during biomolecular condensation.