--- title: Manuela Ayee-Leong date: 2022-02-02T16:16:00-06:00 author: Click Rain Admin canonical_url: "https://www.dordt.edu/people/manuela-ayee-leong" section: People --- [ View Directory](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/faculty-information) ![](https://d3evso2dxyohou.cloudfront.net/generalUploads/people/68a8158810f8418a711.jpg?mode=crop&pos=top-center&w=25&h=25&f=webp&c=ac4c2d57&v=86af8be4a5d6bc6bd6bd8de458af53e4f955bf4a1702cefe3cdec352ede2673d) [Engineering](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/faculty-information?department=engineering) [Chemistry](https://www.dordt.edu/academics/faculty-information?department=chemistry) # Dr. Manuela Ayee-Leong Professor of Engineering & Chemistry ![]() [712-722-6739](tel:712-722-6739) ![]() ![]() **EDUCATION & TRAINING** - **NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Medicine**, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) - **Ph.D., Chemical Engineering**, UIC, Dissertation: [*Molecular Modeling of Endogenous and Exogenous Toxins at Phospholipid Interfaces*](https://www.proquest.com/openview/2962874970927f577eb8d9911bd769c9/1?cbl=18750&pq-origsite=gscholar) - **M.S., Chemical Engineering**, Iowa State University, Thesis: [*Luminescent water-soluble quantum dots: Improved stability through surface functionalization*](https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1369&context=etd) - **B.A., Engineering Science - Chemistry Emphasis**, Dordt University (formerly Dordt College) **EXPERIENCE & INTERESTS** Dr. Ayee-Leong has experience in both academia and industry. Her research interests combine computational & experimental techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying effects of small molecules & proteins on membrane biomechanics & cell biophysical properties, with a focus on pathogenesis. Some applications include: - Examining molecular interactions of myelin protein zero to uncover pathophysiological mechanisms that drive Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathy disease - Investigating modulation of cellular & tissue biomechanics by oxidized lipids & sterols under hypercholesterolemic conditions - Elucidating roles played by toxins in modulating properties of lipid layers **PUBLICATIONS** - [Effective Parameters Controlling Sterol Transfer: A Time-Resolved Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study, *J of Membrane Biology, 2022*](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-022-00231-3) - [Lipoprotein-Induced Increases in Cholesterol and 7-Ketocholesterol Result in Opposite Molecular-Scale Biophysical Effects on Membrane Structure, *Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2021*](http://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.715932) - [Membrane modulatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids: Analysis of molecular level interactions. *Current Topics in Membranes, 2021*](https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ctm.2020.08.001) - [Membrane Stiffening in Osmotic Swelling: Analysis of Membrane Tension and Elastic Modulus. *Current Topics in Membranes, 2018*](https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.ctm.2018.07.003) - [Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Kir2. 2 Interactions with an Ensemble of Cholesterol Molecules. *Biophysical Journal, 2018*](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000634951830972X) - [Hypotonic Challenge of Endothelial Cells Increases Membrane Stiffness with No Effect on Tether Force, *Biophys J, 2018*](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2017.12.032) - [oxLDL induces endothelial cell proliferation via Rho/ROCK/Akt/p27kip1 signaling: opposite effects of oxLDL and cholesterol loading, *American J of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2017*](https://www.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/ajpcell.00249.2016) - [Molecular-Scale Biophysical Modulation of an Endothelial Membrane by Oxidized Phospholipids, *Biophys J, 2017*](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000634951634276X) - [Differential effects of sterols on ion channels: Stereospecific Binding vs Stereospecific Response, *Current Topics in Membranes, 2017*](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1063582317300091) - [The emerging threat of superwarfarins: history, detection, mechanisms, and countermeasures, *Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2016*](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/nyas.13085) - [Paradoxical impact of cholesterol on lipid packing and cell stiffness, *Frontiers in Bioscience, Landmark Edition, 2016*](https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3f6b/516e29f7324063641a33e5e387669d8317d8.pdf) - [Structural perturbation of a DPPC bilayer by warfarin and its bolaamphiphilic analogue: A molecular dynamics study, *J Colloid & Interface Sci, 2016*](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2016.01.056)