amphiphilic

American  

[am-fuh-fil-ik] / ˌæm fəˈfɪl ɪk /

adjective

1. Biochemistry. (of a molecule) having two different affinities, as a polar end that is attracted to water and a nonpolar end that is repelled by it.

   Phospholipids are amphiphilic molecules that are the structural foundation of essentially all cell membranes.

---

Etymology

Origin of amphiphilic

amphi- ( def. ) + -philic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Professor Park's team developed a supramolecular photocatalyst that can transfer electrons similar to chlorophyll in nature by modifying rhodamine, an existing fluorescent dyes, into an amphiphilic structure.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2024

The common factors among the active lipoproteins include a positive charge and an amphiphilic structure, meaning they have segments that repel fat and others that repel water.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2024

Recall that plasma membranes are amphiphilic: They have hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

A molecule with this arrangement of a positively or negatively charged area and an uncharged, or non-polar, area is referred to as amphiphilic or “dual-loving.”

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022