ORDERING EFFECT OF PERFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES ON LIPID BILAYERS

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer products such as cookware and food packaging. Their chemical stability leads to persistence in the environment and bioaccumulation in organisms, raising increasing concern over toxicity. At the cellular level, the plasma membrane is a likely point of entry for PFAS. In this work, we investigate how perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a common PFAS, alters the structural and dynamic properties of lipid membranes composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC). Using solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy on selectively deuterated POPC, we probe how increasing PFOA concentration modulates lipid order parameters along the sn-1 palmitoyl chain.To further connect molecular-scale interactions to mesoscopic structure, we are combining these NMR results with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and small-angle X-ray scattering. Together, these complementary approaches aim to provide a quantitative description of how PFOA concentration impacts lipid packing and membrane organization. Such insights are essential both for understanding PFAS toxicity at the molecular level and for guiding strategies for environmental remediation.