Overview

My research interests are in the area of membrane biophysics, with emphasis on the relationships between membrane composition, mesoscopic lateral ordering, physical properties and biological function.

We use a wide range of techniques to investigate the elastic and electrical properties of plasma membrane and their modification in disease. In particular, we are interested in the effects of oxidative stress on membrane mechanics, since there is overwhelming evidence that oxidative stress contributes critically to the development and detrimental effects of many diseases, including major health threats such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, arthritis, and a number of age related conditions. This approach also allows us to assess the anti-oxidative potential of drugs.

Another area of research in our laboratory is the interaction between proteins and lipid bilayer membranes. We investigate how the membrane lateral microdomain organisation and viscoelastic and electrical properties are modified as a result of the interactions with various proteins, such as spectrin (a cytosekeltal protein), α-elastin (an elastic protein) and bacterial toxins. Along with colleagues from the Medical School, we also work on protein-membrane interactions for proteins involved in the process of apoptosis.

We were the first to establish the presence of long-range lateral order in the tear film lipid layer using Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction. This is a part of a wider project aimed at detailed understanding of the relations between the mesoscopic organisation and the functional performance of the pre-ocular tear film lipid layer, and how they depend on the molecular diversity found in the layer.

Much work is carried out on the use of nonlinear optical imaging techniques, such as Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS), Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and Multiphoton Fluorescence (MF) to investigate protein-membrane interactions and uptake of fatty acids by cells.

One of my research interests outside the immediate area of membrane biophysics is the problem of swimming at low Reynolds numbers and the possibility to construct working prototypes of viscous swimmers.

Further details about my research projects can be found here.

Past Work

In the past, I have worked extensively on problems related to statics and dynamics of wetting, resulting in a new model for the velocity dependence of the dynamic contact angle capable of accounting for the full energy dissipation in the three-phase contact zone.

At the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, I was involved in a number of projects studying the coupling between chemical processes and membrane morphology, which allows to achieve control over the shapes of soft membranes by means of (photo)chemical reactions.

I also spent some time as a Research Associate at the Cavendish Laboratory, investigating the mechanical properties of liquid crystal colloids and surfactant mesophases.

Education and Employment

1984 - 1989 MSc in Chemical Physics and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Sofia, Bulgaria 

1989 - 1994 PhD in Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

1989 - 1993 Research Fellow III-II degree (equivalent to Lecturer), Central Laboratory of Mineral Processing, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

1993 - 1997 Research Fellow II-I degree (equivalent to Lecturer and Senior Lecturer), Institute of Biophysics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

1997 - 1999 Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Golm, Germany

2000 - 2001 Research Associate, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge

2001 - 2006 Lecturer in Biomedical Physics, University of Exeter

since 2006 Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Physics, University of Exeter

Recent Research Grants

EPSRC: The impact of spectrin on membrane biophysics, £457k

DiabetesUK: Subcellular disposition of fatty acids in β-cells revealed by non-linear microscopy: insights into mechanisms of pancreatic β-cell lipotoxicity, £144k

DSTL: Effects of bacterial toxins on host cell membrane biophysics: biomarkers and targets for intervention, £382k

Recent Facilities Usage

STFC Diamond Light Source: The Structure of the Lipid Layer of the Pre-Occular Tear Film, 12 shifts

Contributions to the Community

Panel member on EPSRC Programme Grant Reviews

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Publications

_{Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.}

| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1995 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 |

2023

• Pearce B. (2023) Metasurfaces and Phononic Crystals for Manipulating Fluid Flow and Acoustics.

2022

• Glover G. (2022) Investigating glucose metabolism at the level of the individual bacterium.
• Marshall S, McGill B, Morcrette H, Winlove CP, Chimerel C, Petrov PG, Bokori-Brown M. (2022) Interaction of Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin with the Plasma Membrane: The Role of Amino Acids Y42, Y43 and H162, Toxins, volume 14, no. 11, pages 757-757, DOI:10.3390/toxins14110757. [PDF]
• Brown J. (2022) Phononic Metamaterials for Surface Acoustic Wave Sensing.
• Lechner B-D, Smith P, McGill B, Marshall S, Trick JL, Chumakov AP, Winlove CP, Konovalov OV, Lorenz CD, Petrov PG. (2022) The Effects of Cholesterol Oxidation on Erythrocyte Plasma Membranes: A Monolayer Study, Membranes, volume 12, no. 9, pages 828-828, DOI:10.3390/membranes12090828. [PDF]
• Glover G, Voliotis M, Łapińska U, Invergo BM, Soanes D, O’Neill P, Moore K, Nikolic N, Petrov PG, Milner DS. (2022) Nutrient and salt depletion synergistically boosts glucose metabolism in individual Escherichia coli cells, Communications Biology, volume 5, no. 1, article no. 385, DOI:10.1038/s42003-022-03336-6. [PDF]
• Glover G, Voliotis M, Łapińska U, Invergo BM, Soanes D, O’Neill P, Moore K, Nikolic N, Petrov PG, Milner DS. (2022) Nutrient and salt depletion synergistically boosts glucose metabolism in individual bacteria, DOI:10.1101/2022.01.26.477826.
• Raof SAW. (2022) Understanding Membrane Dynamics in The Intestinal Pathogen Entamoeba invadens.

2021

• Marshall S. (2021) Interactions of lipid membranes with chitosan and epsilon-toxin: a biophysical approach.
• Smith P, Petrov PG, Lorenz CD. (2021) Cholesterol Oxidation Modulates the Formation of Liquid-Ordered Domains in Model Membranes, DOI:10.1101/2021.05.24.445501.
• McGill B. (2021) Red Blood Cell Membrane: Organisation, Mechanics and Biochemical Signalling.

2020

• Gironi B, Kahveci Z, McGill B, Lechner B-D, Pagliara S, Metz J, Morresi A, Palombo F, Sassi P, Petrov PG. (2020) Effect of DMSO on the Mechanical and Structural Properties of Model and Biological Membranes, Biophysical Journal, volume 119, no. 2, pages 274-286, DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2020.05.037. [PDF]

2019

• Hamilton J. (2019) Bio-inspired Magnetic Systems: Controlled Swimming, Fluid Pumps, and Collective Behaviour.
• Bryan MT, Garcia-Torres J, Martin EL, Hamilton JK, Calero C, Petrov PG, Winlove CP, Pagonabarraga I, Tierno P, Sagues F. (2019) Microscale Magneto-Elastic Composite Swimmers at the Air-Water and Water-Solid Interfaces Under a Uniaxial Field, PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED, volume 11, no. 4, article no. ARTN 044019, DOI:10.1103/PhysRevApplied.11.044019. [PDF]
• Lechner B-D, Smith P, Winlove PC, Lorenz CD, Petrov PG. (2019) Microdomain Structure and Mechanical Properties of Lipid Monolayers Mimicking Red Blood Cell Membranes Under Oxidative Stress, BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL, volume 116, no. 3, pages 164A-164A, DOI:10.1016/j.bpj.2018.11.914. [PDF]

2018

• Kahve A. (2018) Biophysical and biochemical effects and distribution of fatty acids in pancreatic beta cells and microvascular endothelial cells.
• Bokori-Brown M, Metz J, Petrov PG, Mussai F, De Santo C, Smart NJ, Saunders S, Knight B, Pastan I, Titball RW. (2018) Interactions Between Pseudomonas Immunotoxins and the Plasma Membrane: Implications for CAT-8015 Immunotoxin Therapy, FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY, volume 8, article no. ARTN 553, DOI:10.3389/fonc.2018.00553. [PDF]
• Hamilton J, Petrov P, Gilbert A, Ogrin F. (2018) Torque driven ferromagnetic swimmers, Physics of Fluids, volume 30, pages 092001-092001, DOI:10.1063/1.5046360.
• Kahve AMS, Green EM, Whatmore JL, Petrov PG, Winlove CP, Morgan NG. (2018) Use of Raman spectroscopy as a novel means to study lipid deposition and composition in cultured beta cells following exposure to exogenous fatty acids, DIABETIC MEDICINE, volume 35, pages 41-41. [PDF]

2017

• Lechner B-D, Trick JL, Lorenz CD, Winlove P, Petrov PG. (2017) Mesoscale structure of lipid monolayers mimicking red blood cell membranes, EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS, volume 46, pages S305-S305. [PDF]
• Kahve AMS, Richardson SJ, Petrov PG, Whatmore JL, Winlove CP, Morgan NG. (2017) Investigating beta cell and endothelial cell responses to fatty acids, DIABETIC MEDICINE, volume 34, pages 74-75. [PDF]
• Hamilton JK, Petrov PG, Winlove CP, Gilbert AD, Bryan MT, Ogrin FY. (2017) Magnetically controlled ferromagnetic swimmers, Sci Rep, volume 7, DOI:10.1038/srep44142. [PDF]
• Bryan MT, Shelley SR, Parish MJ, Petrov PG, Winlove CP, Gilbert AD, Ogrin FY. (2017) Emergent propagation modes of ferromagnetic swimmers in constrained geometries, Journal of Applied Physics, volume 121, no. 7, DOI:10.1063/1.4976103.

2016

• Bokori-Brown M, Petrov PG, Khafaji MA, Mughal MK, Naylor CE, Shore AC, Gooding KM, Casanova F, Mitchell TJ, Titball RW. (2016) Red Blood Cell Susceptibility to Pneumolysin: CORRELATION WITH MEMBRANE BIOCHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES, J Biol Chem, volume 291, no. 19, pages 10210-10227, DOI:10.1074/jbc.M115.691899. [PDF]

2015

• Jewell SA, Titball RW, Huyet J, Naylor CE, Basak AK, Gologan P, Winlove CP, Petrov PG. (2015) Clostridium perfringensα-toxin interaction with red cells and model membranes, Soft Matter, volume 11, no. 39, pages 7748-7761, DOI:10.1039/c5sm00876j. [PDF]
• Davis S, Davis BM, Richens JL, Vere K-A, Petrov PG, Winlove CP, O'Shea P. (2015) α-Tocopherols modify the membrane dipole potential leading to modulation of ligand binding by P-glycoprotein, J Lipid Res, volume 56, no. 8, pages 1543-1550, DOI:10.1194/jlr.M059519. [PDF]

2013

• Clark T, Jewell S, Sair M, Petrov P, Winlove P. (2013) Do erythrocytes subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass exhibit changes in their membrane mechanical properties?, Critical Care, volume 17, no. Suppl 2, DOI:10.1186/cc11950.
• Clark T, Jewell S, Sair M, Petrov P, Winlove P. (2013) Do changes in red blood cell deformability in patients with septic shock correlate with changes in SOFA scores?, Critical Care, volume 17, no. Suppl 2, DOI:10.1186/cc11949.
• Jewell SA, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2013) The effect of oxidative stress on the membrane dipole potential of human red blood cells, Biochim Biophys Acta, volume 1828, no. 4, pages 1250-1258, DOI:10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.12.019. [PDF]

2012

• Smallwood MJ, Jewell SA, Petrov PG, Winlove CP, Eggleton P, Winyard PG. (2012) The role of phosphatidylserine externalisation and oxidation in C1q-dependent apoptotic cell clearance, Usa, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, volume 53, no. 1.
• Gilbert AD, Ogrin FY, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2012) THEORY OF FERROMAGNETIC MICROSWIMMERS (vol 64, pg 239, 2011), QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF MECHANICS AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS, volume 65, no. 1, pages 181-181, DOI:10.1093/qjmam/hbr024. [PDF]

2011

• Clark T, Jewell SA, Sair M, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2011) A NOVEL TECHNIQUE TO INVESTIGATE ERYTHROCYTE MEMBRANE ABNORMALITIES IN SEPTIC PATIENTS, INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE, volume 37, pages S143-S143. [PDF]
• Gilbert AD, Ogrin FY, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2011) Motion and mixing for multiple ferromagnetic microswimmers, European Physical Journal E, volume 34, article no. 121.
• Hale JP, Winlove CP, Petrov PG. (2011) Effect of hydroperoxides on red blood cell membrane mechanical properties, Biophysical Journal, volume 101, no. 8, pages 1921-1929.
• Gilbert AD, Ogrin FY, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2011) Theory of ferromagnetic microswimmers, The Quarterly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics, volume 64, no. 3, pages 239-263.

2010

• Yoon YZ, Hale JP, Petrov PG, Cicuta P. (2010) Mechanical properties of ternary lipid membranes near a liquid-liquid phase separation boundary, J PHYS-CONDENS MAT, volume 22, no. 6, article no. 062101, DOI:10.1088/0953-8984/22/6/062101.
• Tarr JM, Young PJ, Morse R, Shaw DJ, Haigh R, Petrov PG, Johnson SJ, Winyard PG, Eggleton P. (2010) A mechanism of release of calreticulin from cells during apoptosis, J Mol Biol, volume 401, no. 5, pages 799-812, DOI:10.1016/j.jmb.2010.06.064. [PDF]

2009

• Ogrin FY, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2009) Ogrin, Petrov, and winlove reply:, Physical Review Letters, volume 103, no. 19, DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.199802.
• Ogrin FY, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2009) Comment on "Ferromagnetic Microswimmers" - Reply, PHYS REV LETT, volume 103, no. 19, article no. 199802, DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.199802. [PDF]
• Hale JP, Marcelli G, Parker KH, Winlove CP, Petrov PG. (2009) Red blood cell thermal fluctuations: comparison between experiment and molecular dynamics simulations, Soft Matter, volume 5, pages 3603-3606.

2008

• Ogrin FY, Petrov PG, Winlove CP. (2008) Ferromagnetic microswimmers, Phys Rev Lett, volume 100, no. 21. [PDF]
• Thompson JM, Ellis RE, Green EM, Winlove CP, Petrov PG. (2008) Spectrin maintains the lateral order in phosphatidylserine monolayers, Chem Phys Lipids, volume 151, no. 1, pages 66-68, DOI:10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2007.09.003.

2007

• Petrov PG, Abdul Rahman IB, Thompson JN, Winlove CP. (2007) Two-dimensional order in mammalian pre-ocular tear film, Experimental Eye Research, volume 84, no. 6, pages 1140-1146, DOI:10.1016/j.exer.2007.02.012.

2005

• Döbereiner HG, Dubin-Thaler BJ, Giannone G, Haluska CK, Petrov PG, Reinecke A, Riske K, Sheetz MP. (2005) Dynamics of membranes: From passive to active systems, Advances in Solid State Physics, volume 45, pages 71-82, DOI:10.1007/11423256_6.

2004

• Winlove CP, Ellis RE, Green EM, Petrov PG, Bradley DA. (2004) The organization of lipids in monolayers at the air-water interface using glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXD), Radiation Physics and Chemistry, volume 71, no. 3-4, pages 959-960, DOI:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2004.05.027.

2003

• Petrov PG, Döbereiner HG, Gompper G, Kroll DM. (2003) Advanced Flicker Spectroscopy of Fluid Membranes. , Physical Review Letters, volume 91, no. 4, DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.048301.
• Döbereiner HG, Petrov PG, Riske KA. (2003) Signatures of chemical reactions in the morphology and fluctuations of giant vesicles, Journal of Physics Condensed Matter, volume 15, no. 1, DOI:10.1088/0953-8984/15/1/341.

2002

• Ahir, S.V., Terentjev, E.M.. (2002) Rheology at the Phase Transition Boundary: 1. Lamellar La Phase of AOT Surfactant Solution, Langmuir, volume 18, no. 24, pages 9133-9139, DOI:10.1021/la025792k.
• Petrov PG, Ahir SV, Terentjev EM. (2002) Rheology at the Phase Transition Boundary: 2. Hexagonal Phase of Triton X100 Surfactant Solution, Langmuir, volume 18, no. 24, pages 9140-9148, DOI:10.1021/la025792k.

2001

• Cicuta P, Hopkinson I, Petrov PG. (2001) Photocontrol of Protein Conformation in a Langmuir Monolayer, DOI:10.48550/arxiv.cond-mat/0110260.
• Petrov PG, Terentjev EM. (2001) Formation of Cellular Solid in Liquid Crystal Colloids, Langmuir, volume 17, no. 10, pages 2942-2949, DOI:10.1021/la0016470.
• Cicuta P, Hopkinson I, Petrov PG. (2001) Photocontrol of protein conformation in a Langmuir monolayer, Journal of Chemical Physics, volume 115, no. 21, pages 9991-9994, DOI:10.1063/1.1423666.

2000

• Petrov PG, Döbereiner HG. (2000) Light-induced shape transitions of giant vesicles, Giant Vesicles, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 335-339.

1999

• Lee JB, Petrov PG, Döbereiner HG. (1999) Curvature of zwitterionic membranes in transverse pH gradients, Langmuir, volume 15, no. 24, pages 8543-8546, DOI:10.1021/la981265i.
• Petrov PG, Lee JB, Döbereiner HG. (1999) Coupling chemical reactions to membrane curvature: A photochemical morphology switch, Europhysics Letters, volume 48, no. 4, pages 435-441, DOI:10.1209/epl/i1999-00501-8.

1998

• Petrov JG, Petrov PG. (1998) Molecular-hydrodynamic description of Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, LANGMUIR, volume 14, no. 9, pages 2490-2496, DOI:10.1021/la971011h. [PDF]

1997

• Petrov PG. (1997) Dynamics of deposition of Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers, Journal of the Chemical Society - Faraday Transactions, volume 93, no. 2, pages 295-302, DOI:10.1039/a606450g.

1995

• Petrov PG, Petrov JG. (1995) Extrapolated Dynamic Contact Angle and Viscous Deformation of a Steady Moving Meniscus at a Vertical Flat Wall, Langmuir, volume 11, no. 8, pages 3261-3268, DOI:10.1021/la00008a061.

1993

• Petrov PG, Petrov JG. (1993) Transition between steady dewetting and dynamic formation of a liquid film, First World Congress on Emulsion, Paris, France, 19th - 22nd Oct 1993, Congress Proceedings, pages 2-10/116-2-10/116/06.

1992

• Petrov PG, Petrov JG. (1992) A Combined Molecular-Hydrodynamic Approach to Wetting Kinetics, Langmuir, volume 8, no. 7, pages 1762-1767, DOI:10.1021/la00043a013.
• Petrov JG, Petrov PG. (1992) Forced advancement and retraction of polar liquids on a low energy surface, Colloids and Surfaces, volume 64, no. 2, pages 143-149, DOI:10.1016/0166-6622(92)80093-H.
• Petrov JG, Sedev RV, Petrov PG. (1992) Effect of geometry on steady wetting kinetics and critical velocity of film entrainment, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, volume 38, no. C, pages 229-269, DOI:10.1016/0001-8686(92)80046-Z.
• PETROV PG, PETROV JG. (1992) EFFECT OF THE SOLID-SURFACE CURVATURE ON DEWETTING KINETICS IN VIEW OF THE COMBINED MOLECULAR-HYDRODYNAMIC APPROACH, DOKLADI NA BOLGARSKATA AKADEMIYA NA NAUKITE, volume 45, no. 12, pages 77-80. [PDF]

1991

• Petrov PG, Petrov JG. (1991) Comparison of the static and dynamic contact angle hysteresis at low velocities of the three-phase contact line, Colloids and Surfaces, volume 61, no. C, pages 227-240, DOI:10.1016/0166-6622(91)80312-C.

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