STRUCTURAL AND BIOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES AND THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS IN MAINTAINING CELLULAR HOMEOSTASIS

This article analyzes the structural and biophysical properties of biological membranes and their role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. The aim of the study is to describe the homeostatic functions of the lipid bilayer, the fluid mosaic model, membrane fluidity, permeability, and ion transport mechanisms. A systematic literature review was conducted using international scientific databases (PubMed, NCBI Bookshelf, ScienceDirect) and classical works (Singer and Nicolson, 1972; Alberts et al.). The main findings indicate that membrane lipid composition, asymmetry, and biophysical parameters (fluidity, thickness, and dielectric properties) directly regulate the activity of ion channels, Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, and other transporters. These mechanisms maintain ion gradients, osmotic balance, calcium homeostasis, and signaling. In conclusion, biological membranes are not passive barriers but dynamic homeostatic systems, and their dysfunction may lead to various pathologies. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the fields of membranology, physiology, and biomedicine.