Recent experimental data indicate that cell membranes are inhomogeneous on various length scales. It is believed that non-random distribution of biomembrane components (i.e. of lipids and proteins) is used by cell membranes in many vital functions including signal transduction and sorting. Such non-random distribution is manifested by the existence of protein-lipid complexes and domains that are also known as rafts. Effective diffusivity and other parameters characterizing lipid and protein translational dynamics are not expected to be displacement-independent on the length scale of membrane inhomogeneities. Detailed knowledge of such displacement-dependent diffusion is essential for understanding structural and transport properties of lipid membranes as well as for understanding interactions between membrane components and functions of these components.

In our group we develop and apply experimental approaches based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) that allow monitoring translational dynamics in multicomponent protein-lipid membranes on the length scale as small as 100 nm. Diffusion studies are performed in a broad range of length and time scales. These studies lead to a possibility of correlating molecular dynamics with the structure of biomembranes on nanoscale.

Nanostructured materials that posses hierarchically organized systems of pores or channels can be used in catalysis, molecular storage and separations. In particular, most recent development of dual-pore-size materials containing open mesopore systems, which allow fast access/removal of guest molecules to/from functional micropores, has all potentials to drastically improve the industrial applications relying on use of micropores. Molecular diffusion in such materials is of exceptional importance for numerous applications. Despite its importance, a fundamental understanding of molecular transport in hierarchically organized porous materials is still lacking.

Recent progress in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques opens a possibility of direct studies of molecular diffusion in porous solids for a broad range of molecular displacements. In addition, NMR allows investigating correlations of consecutive movements of molecules on various length scales, including the nanoscale. In our group we combine such NMR experimental studies with computer modeling of diffusion using dynamics Monte Carlo method. In particular, the possibility of separating mixtures of small molecules under conditions of anomalous single-file diffusion captures much of our interest.