Different techniques to study lateral diffusion of lipids are reviewed, including long-range diffusion methods and short-range diffusion methods. Long-range diffusion methods require the measurements of the time needed to fill a given area of the membrane. Applications of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) method are discussed. Short-range diffusion methods measure the rate of bimolecular collisions. The methods include fluorescence quenching, fluorescence energy transfer, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Special attention is given to Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Procedure of obtaining diffusion coefficient D using novel two dimensional electron double-double resonance experiment (2D-ELDOR) is discussed in greater detail. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of using 2D Fourier Transform ESR spectroscopy for lateral diffusion studies, the D of spin-labeled phospholipids sample is estimated by 2D-ELDOR method
