Water-lipid interaction

The interactions of lipids and water are fundamental to all living organisms [1]. Water is ubiquitous and is often taken for granted, but its properties are unique. The water molecule is an electrical dipole, as the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge and the oxygen has a partial negative charge. This results in extensive hydrogen bonding among water molecules as well as potentially between water molecules and solutes. Each water molecule is able to hydrogen bond to four neighbors. Water hydrogen bonds with the hydrogens attached to oxygen or nitrogen molecules in the polar head groups of lipids; similarly, oxygens and nitrogens from the polar head groups can hydrogen bond with hydrogens from water.