Figure 2.

Skin lipid bilayers subject to heat reach a hemifused state with interstitial water confined into droplets or channels. (A) shows the initial snapshot of the 5:1 water/lipid 16 × 16 × 32 nm³ atomistic model and (B) the same system after heating at 95°C for 0.2 μs, followed by annealing 30°C for 1.8 μs; small crystalline domains are formed during the latter stage. (C) shows the final snapshot of the 2:1 water/lipid model after heating. Lipid molecules are colored as in Fig. 1, water in white and Na⁺ ions in yellow. (D) shows the final snapshot of the 16 × 16 × 32 nm³ 2:1 water/lipid model, showing the distribution of interstitial water as clusters shown in distinct colors. To see this figure in color, go online.