Structure and function of the endothelial surface layer: unraveling the nanoarchitecture of biological surfaces

Brandon P. Reines, Barry W. Ninham

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    29 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Among the unsolved mysteries of modern biology is the nature of a lining of blood vessels called the 'endothelial surface layer' or ESL. In venous micro-vessels, it is half a micron in thickness. The ESL is 10 times thicker than the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) at its base, has been presumed to be comprised mainly of water, yet is rigid enough to exclude red blood cells. How is this possible? Developments in physical chemistry suggest that the venous ESL is actually comprised of nanobubbles of CO2, generated from tissue metabolism, in a foam nucleated in the eGC. For arteries, the ESL is dominated by nanobubbles of O2 and N2 from inspired air. The bubbles of the foam are separated and stabilized by thin layers of serum electrolyte and proteins, and a palisade of charged polymer strands of the eGC. The ESL seems to be a respiratory organ contiguous with the flowing blood, an extension of, and a 'lung' in miniature. This interpretation may have far-reaching consequences for physiology.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)e13
    JournalQuarterly Reviews of Biophysics
    Volume52
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 27 Nov 2019

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Structure and function of the endothelial surface layer: unraveling the nanoarchitecture of biological surfaces'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this