The Impact of an Anchoring Layer on the Formation of Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes on Silver Substrates

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) have been known as stable and versatile experimental platforms for protein–membrane interaction studies. In this work, the assembly of functional tBLMs on silver substrates and the effect of the molecular chain-length of backfiller molecules on their properties were investigated. The following backfillers 3-mercapto-1-propanol (3M1P), 4-mercapto-1-butanol (4M1B), 6-mercapto-1-hexanol (6M1H), and 9-mercapto-1-nonanol (9M1N) mixed with the molecular anchor WC14 (20-tetradecyloxy-3,6,9,12,15,18,22 heptaoxahexatricontane-1-thiol) were used to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on silver, which influenced a fusion of multilamellar vesicles and the formation of tBLMs. Spectroscopic analysis by SERS and RAIRS has shown that by using different-length backfiller molecules, it is possible to control WC14 anchor molecules orientation on the surface. An introduction of increasingly longer surface backfillers in the mixed SAM may be related to the increasing SAMs molecular order and more vertical orientation of WC14 at both the hydrophilic ethylenoxide segment and the hydrophobic lipid bilayer anchoring alkane chains. Since no clustering of WC14 alkane chains, which is deleterious for tBLM integrity, was observed on dry samples, the suitability of mixed-component SAMs for subsequent tBLM formation was further interrogated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). EIS showed the arrangement of well-insulating tBLMs if 3M1P was used as a backfiller. An increase in the length of the backfiller led to increased defectiveness of tBLMs. Despite variable defectiveness, all tBLMs responded to the pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, vaginolysin in a manner consistent with the functional reconstitution of the toxin into phospholipid bilayer. This experiment demonstrates the biological relevance of tBLMs assembled on silver surfaces and indicates their utility as biosensing elements for the detection of pore-forming toxins in liquid samples.     

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes on mixed self-assembled monolayers of a novel anchoring thiol: impact of the anchoring thiol density on bilayer formation

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) are designed on mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a novel synthetic anchoring thiol, 2,3-di-o-palmitoylglycerol-1-tetraethylene glycol mercaptopropanoic acid ester (TEG-DP), and a new short dilution thiol molecule, tetraethylene glycol mercaptopropanoic acid ester (TEG). tBLM formation was accomplished by self-directed fusion of small unilamellar vesicles of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The influence of the dilution of the anchoring thiol molecule in the SAM on the vesicle fusion process and on the properties of the resulting tBLMs is studied. It is observed by quartz crystal microbalance that vesicle fusion is a one-step process for a pure TEG-DP SAM as well as for mixed SAMs containing a high concentration of the anchoring thiol. However, upon dilution of the anchoring thiol to moderate concentrations, this process is decelerated and possibly follows a pathway different from that observed on a pure TEG-DP SAM. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is used to qualitatively correlate the composition of the SAM to the electrical properties of the tBLM. In this paper we also delineate the necessity of a critical concentration of this anchoring TEG-DP thiol as a requisite for inducing the fusion of vesicles to form a tBLM.     

Immobilization of acetylcholinesterase in lipid membranes deposited on self-assembled monolayers

Human red blood cell acetylcholinesterase was incorporated into planar lipid membranes deposited on alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold substrates. Activity of the protein in the membrane was detected with a standard photometric assay and was determined to be similar to the protein in detergent solution or incorporated in lipid vesicles. Monolayer and bilayer lipid membranes were generated by fusing liposomes to hydrophobic and hydrophilic SAMs, respectively. Liposomes were formed by the injection method using the lipid dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). The formation of alkanethiol SAMs and lipid monolayers on SAMs was confirmed by sessile drop goniometry, ellipsometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. In this work, we report acetylcholinesterase immobilization in lipid membranes deposited on SAMs formed on the gold surface and compare its activity to enzyme in solution.     

Influence of nanotopography on phospholipid bilayer formation on silicon dioxide

We have investigated the effect of well-defined nanoscale topography on the 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid vesicle adsorption and supported phospholipid bilayer (SPB) formation on SiO2 surfaces using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Unilamellar lipid vesicles with two different sizes, 30 and 100 nm, were adsorbed on pitted surfaces with two different pit diameters, 110 and 190 nm, as produced by colloidal lithography, and the behavior was compared to results obtained on flat surfaces. In all cases, complete bilayer formation was observed after a critical coverage of adsorbed vesicles had been reached. However, the kinetics of the vesicle-to-bilayer transformation, including the critical coverage, was significantly altered by surface topography for both vesicle sizes. Surface topography hampered the overall bilayer formation kinetics for the smaller vesicles, but promoted SPB formation for the larger vesicles. Depending on vesicle size, we propose two modifications of the precursor-mediated vesicle-to-bilayer transformation mechanism used to describe supported lipid bilayer formation on the corresponding flat surface. Our results may have important implications for various lipid-membrane-based applications using rough or topographically structured surfaces.     

A silicate gel for promoting deposition of lipid bilayers

A simple method for modifying a polymer surface to induce lipid bilayer formation by vesicle fusion is described. A silicate gel was prepared by condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of acid. When applied to a poly(methylmethacrylate) substrate, either a rough or a smooth layer could be produced, depending on the method used for the application. The smooth surface induced formation of a supported lipid bilayer by fusion of lipid vesicles; the rough silicate surface induced adsorption of a vesicle layer. A high-frequency acoustic waveguide device was used to follow the initial adsorption of vesicles, the transition from a vesicle layer to a bilayer, and the formation of a complete bilayer; the time required to form a bilayer was determined as a function of lipid concentration in suspension. The presence of a bilayer on the smooth silicate surface was confirmed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. An additional procedure is described to modify a gold surface to induce bilayer formation.     

Adsorption behavior of DNA-wrapped carbon nanotubes on self-assembled monolayer surfaces

We have examined the adsorption of DNA-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes (DNA-SWNTs) on hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and charged surfaces of alkylthiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. Our goal is to understand how DNA-SWNTs interact with surfaces of varying chemical functionality. These samples were characterized using reflection absorption FTIR (RAIRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. We have found that DNA-SWNTs preferentially adsorb to positively charged amine-terminated SAMs and to bare gold surfaces versus hydrophobic methyl-terminated or negatively charged carboxylic acid-terminated SAMs. Examination of the adsorption on gold of single-strand DNA (ssDNA) of the same sequence used to wrap the SWNTs suggests that the DNA wrapping plays a role in the adsorption behavior of DNA-SWNTs.     

A facile approach for assembling lipid bilayer membranes on template-stripped gold

Lipid vesicles are designed with functional chemical groups to promote vesicle fusion on template-stripped gold (TS Au) surfaces that does not spontaneously occur on unfunctionalized Au surfaces. Three types of vesicles were exposed to TS Au surfaces: (1) vesicles composed of only 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipids; (2) vesicles composed of lipid mixtures of 2.5 mol % of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-poly(ethylene glycol)-2000-N-[3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate] (DSPE-PEG-PDP) and 97.5 mol % of POPC; and (3) vesicles composed of 2.5 mol % of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))-2000] (DSPE-PEG) and 97.5 mol % POPC. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) topography and force spectroscopy measurements acquired in a fluid environment confirmed tethered lipid bilayer membrane (tLBM) formation only for vesicles composed of 2.5 mol % DSPE-PEG-PDP/97.5 mol % POPC, thus indicating that the sulfur-containing PDP group is necessary to achieve tLBM formation on TS Au via Au-thiolate bonds. Analysis of force-distance curves for 2.5 mol % DSPE-PEG-PDP/97.5 mol % POPC tLBMs on TS Au yielded a breakthrough distance of 4.8 ± 0.4 nm, which is about 1.7 nm thicker than that of POPC lipid bilayer membrane formed on mica. Thus, the PEG group serves as a spacer layer between the tLBM and the TS Au surface. Fluorescence microscopy results indicate that these tLBMs also have greater mechanical stability than solid-supported lipid bilayer membranes made from the same vesicles on mica. The described process for assembling stable tLBMs on Au surfaces is compatible with microdispensing used in array fabrication.     

Surface response methodology for the study of supported membrane formation

We report on the investigations of the formation of the tethered lipid bilayer by vesicle deposition on amine-functionalized surfaces. The tethered bilayer was created by the deposition of egg-PC vesicles containing 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-poly-(ethyleneglycol)-N-hydroxysuccinimide as anchoring molecules on an amine-coated surface. This approach is an easy route for the formation of a biomimetic-supported membrane. A Doelhert experimental design was applied to determine the conditions leading to the formation of a continuous and defect-free tethered bilayer on different surfaces (gold and glass). Doehlert designs allow modeling of the experimental responses by second-order polynomial equations as a function of experimental factors. Four factors expected to influence bilayer formation were studied: the lipid concentration in the vesicle suspension, the mass percentage of anchoring molecules in the vesicles, the contact time between the vesicles and the surface, and the resting time of the membrane after buffer rinse. The optimization of the membrane preparation parameters was achieved by monitoring lipid assembly formation using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy on gold and by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching on glass. Three characteristic responses were systematically measured: the bilayer thickness, the lipid diffusion coefficient, and the lipid mobile fraction. The simultaneous inspection of the three characteristics revealed that a restricted experimental domain leads to properties that are in accordance with a bilayer presence. The factors of this domain are a lipid concentration from 0.1 to 1 mg/mL, 4-8% of anchoring molecules in the vesicles, 1-4 h of contact time between vesicles and surface, and 21-24 h of resting time after buffer rinse. Under these conditions, a membrane having a lipid mass per surface between 545 +/- 5 and 590 +/- 10 ng/cm2, a diffusion coefficient of between 2.5 +/- 0.3 x 10(-8) and 3.60 +/- 0.5 x 10(-8) cm2/s, and a mobile fraction between 94 +/- 2 and 99 +/- 1% was formed. These findings were confirmed by atomic force microscopy observations, which showed the presence of a continuous and homogeneous bilayer in the determined experimental domain. This formation procedure presents many advantages; it provides an easily obtainable biomimetic membrane model for proteins studies and offers a versatile tethered bilayer because it can be adapted easily to various types of supports.     

In-situ characterization of self-assembled monolayers of water-soluble oligo(ethylene oxide) compounds

In-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was utilized to examine the formation of the self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the water-soluble oligo(ethylene oxide) [OEO] disulfide [S(CH(2)CH(2)O)(6)CH(3)](2) {[S(EO)(6)](2)} and two analogous thiols - HS(CH(2)CH(2)O)(6)CH(3) {(EO)(6)} and HS(CH(2))(3)O(CH(2)CH(2)O)(5)CH(3) {C(3)(EO)(5)} - on Au from aqueous solutions. Kinetic data for all compounds follow simple Langmuirian models with the disulfide reaching a self-limiting final state (d=1.2nm) more rapidly than the full coverage final states of the thiol analogs (d=2.0nm). The in-situ ellipsometric thicknesses of all compounds were found to be nearly identical to earlier ex-situ ellipsometric measurements suggesting similar surface coverages and structural models in air and under water. Exposure to bovine serum albumin (BSA) shows the self-limiting (d=1.2nm) [S(EO)(6)](2) SAMs to be the most highly protein resistant surfaces relative to bare Au and completely-formed SAMs of the two analogous thiols and octadecanethiol (ODT). When challenged with up to near physiological levels of BSA (2.5mg/mL), protein adsorption on the final state [S(EO)(6)](2) SAM was only 3% of that which adsorbed to the bare Au and ODT SAMs.     

Loosely packed self-assembled monolayer of N-hexadecyl-3,6-di(p-mercaptophenylacetylene)carbazole on gold and its application in biomimetic membrane research

Dithiols of N-hexadecyl-3,6-di(p-mercaptophenylacetylene)carbazole (HDMC) have been synthesized and employed to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. One characteristic of the HDMC molecule is its peculiar molecular structure consisting of a large and rigid headgroup and a small and flexible alkyl-chain tail. HDMC adsorbates can attach to gold substrates by a strong Au-S bond with weak van der Waals interactions between the alkyl-chain tails, leading to a loosely packed hydrophobic SAM. In this way we can couple hybrid bilayer membranes (HBMs) to gold surfaces with more likeness to a cell bilayer than the conventional HBMs based on densely packed long-chain alkanethiol SAMs. The insulating properties and stability of the HDMC monolayer as well as the HDMC/lipid bilayer on gold have been investigated by electrochemical techniques including cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. To test whether the quality of the bilayer is sufficiently high for biomimetic research, we incorporated the pore-forming protein alpha-hemolysin) and the horseradish peroxidase into the bilayers, respectively. Experimental results demonstrated that this type of loosely packed hydrophobic SAM has great potential in biomimetic bilayer research and biosensor application.     

Supported bilayer lipid membrane arrays on photopatterned self-assembled monolayers

This work demonstrates the use of photocleavable cholesterol derivatives to create supported bilayer lipid membrane arrays on silica. The photocleavable cholesteryl tether is attached to the surface by using the reaction of an amine-functionalized self-assembled monolayer (SAM) and the N-hydroxysuccinimide-based reagent 9. The resultant SAM contains an ortho-nitrobenzyl residue that can be cleaved by photolysis by using soft (365 nm) UV light regenerating the original amine surface, and which can be patterned using a mask. The photoreaction yield was approximately 75 % which was significantly higher than previously found for related ortho-nitrobenzyl photochemistry on gold substrates. The SAMs were characterized by means of contact angle measurements, ellipsometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Patterned surfaces were characterized with SEM and AFM. After immersing the patterned surface into a solution containing small unilamellar vesicles of egg phosphatidylcholine (PC), supported lipid membranes were formed comprised of lipid bilayer over the amine functionalized "hydrophilic" regions and lipid monolayer over the cholesteryl "hydrophobic" regions. This was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and AFM. FRAP studies yielded a lateral diffusion coefficient for the probe molecule of 0.14+/-0.05 microm(2) s(-1) in the bilayer regions and approximately 0.01 microm(2) s(-1) in the monolayer regions. This order of magnitude difference in diffusion coefficients effectively serves to isolate the bilayer regions from one another, thus creating a bilayer array.     

Formation of tethered bilayer lipid membranes on gold surfaces: QCM-Z and AFM study

Recently, tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) have shown high potential as biomimetic systems due to their high stability and electrical properties, and have been used in applications ranging from membrane protein incorporation to biosensors. However, the kinetics of their formation remains largely uninvestigated. By using quartz crystal microbalance with impedance analysis (QCM-Z), we were able to monitor both the kinetics and viscoelastic properties of tether adsorption and vesicle fusion. Formation of the tether monolayer was shown to follow pseudo-first-order Langmuir kinetics with association and dissociation rate constants of 21.7 M-1 s(-1) and 7.43 x 10-6 s(-1), respectively. Moreover, the QCM-Z results indicate a rigid layer at the height of deposition, which then undergoes swelling as indicated by AFM. The deposition of vesicles to the tether layer also followed pseudo-first-order Langmuir kinetics with observed rate constants of 5.58 x 10(-2) and 2.41 x 10-2 s(-1) in water and buffer, respectively. Differential analysis of the QCM-Z data indicated deposition to be the fast kinetic step, with the rate-limiting steps being water release and fusion. Atomic force microscopy pictures taken complement the QCM-Z data, showing the major stages of tether adsorption and vesicle fusion, while providing a road map to successful tBLM formation.     

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes based on monolayers of thiolipids mixed with a complementary dilution molecule. 1. Incorporation of channel peptides

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) are described based on the self-assembly of a monolayer on template stripped gold of an archea analogue thiolipid, 2,3-di-o-phytanyl-sn-glycerol-1-tetraethylene glycol-d,l-alpha-lipoic acid ester lipid (DPTL), and a newly designed dilution molecule, tetraethylene glycol-d,l-alpha-lipoic acid ester (TEGL). The tBLM is completed by fusion of liposomes made from a mixture of diphytanoylphosphatidyl choline (DPhyPC), cholesterol, and 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (DPhyPG) in a molar ratio of 6:3:1. Melittin and gramicidin are incorporated into these tBLMs as shown by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. Ionic conductivity at 0 V vs Ag|AgCl, 3 M KCl, measured by EIS measurements are comparable to the results obtained by other research groups. Admittance plots as a function of potential are discussed on a qualitative basis in terms of the kinetics of ion transport through the channels.     

Self-assembled monolayers of an oligo(ethylene oxide) disulfide and its corresponding thiol assembled from water: characterization and protein resistance

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the disulfide [S(CH2CH2O)6CH3]2 ([S(EO)6]2) on Au from 95% ethanol and from 100% water are described. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy indicate that the [S(EO)6]2 films are similar to the disordered films of HS(CH2CH2O)6CH3 ((EO)6) and HS(CH2)3O(CH2CH2O)5CH3 (C3EO5) at their protein adsorption minima. The [S(EO)6]2 SAMs exhibit constant film thickness (d) of 1.2 +/- 0.2 nm over long immersion times (up to 20 days) and do not attain the highly ordered, 7/2 helical structure of the (EO)6 and C3EO5 SAMs (d = 2.0 nm). Exposure of these self-limiting [S(EO)6]2 SAMs to bovine serum albumin show high resistance to protein adsorption.     

Formation and finite element analysis of tethered bilayer lipid structures

Rapid solvent exchange of an ethanolic solution of diphytanoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPhyPC) in the presence of a mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM) [thiolipid/β-mercaptoethanol (βME) (3/7 mol/mol) on Au] shows a transition from densely packed tethered bilayer lipid membranes [(dp)tBLMs], to loosely packed tethered bilayer lipid membranes [(lp)tBLMs], and tethered bilayer liposome nanoparticles (tBLNs) with decreasing DPhyPC concentration. The tethered lipidic constructs in the aqueous medium were analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Finite element analysis (FEA) was applied to interpret spectral EIS features without referring to equivalent circuit modeling. Using structural data obtained earlier from neutron reflectometry and dielectric constants of lipid bilayers, we reproduced experimentally observed features of the electrochemical impedance (EI) spectra of complex surface constructs involving small pinhole defects, large membrane-free patches, and bound liposomes. We demonstrated by FEA that highly insulating (dp)tBLMs with low-defect density exhibit EI spectra in the shape of a perfect semicircle with or without low-frequency upward "tails" in the Cole-Cole representation. Such EI spectra were observed at DPhyPC concentrations of >5 × 10(-3) mol L(-1). While AFM was not able to visualize very small lateral defects in such films, EI spectra unambiguously signaled their presence by increased low frequency "tails". Using FEA we demonstrate that films with large diameter visible defects (>25 nm by AFM) produce EI spectral features consisting of two semicircles of comparable size. Such films were typically obtained at DPhyPC concentrations of <5 × 10(-3) mol L(-1). At DPhyPC concentrations of <1.0 × 10(-3) mol L(-1) the planar bilayer structures were replaced by ellipsoidal liposomes with diameters ranging from 50 to 500 nm as observed in AFM images. Despite the distinct surface morphology change, the EI curves exhibited two semicircle spectral features typical for the large size defects in planar tBLMs. FEA revealed that, to account for these EI features for bound liposome systems (50-500 nm diameter), one needs to assume much lower tBLM conductivities of the submembrane space, which separates the electrode surface and the phospholipid bilayer. Alternatively, FEA indicates that such features may also be observed on composite surfaces containing both bound liposomes and patches of planar bilayers. Triple semicircular features, observed in some of the experimental EI curves, were attributed to an increased complexity of the real tBLMs. The modeling demonstrated that such features are typical for heterogeneous tBLM surfaces containing large patches of different defectiveness levels. By integrating AFM, EIS, and FEA data, our work provides diagnostic criteria allowing the precise characterization of the properties and the morphology of surface supported bilayer systems.     

Soft lithographic patterning of supported lipid bilayers onto a surface and inside microfluidic channels

We present simple soft lithographic methods for patterning supported lipid bilayer (SLB) membranes onto a surface and inside microfluidic channels. Micropatterns of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based polymers were fabricated on glass substrates by microcontact printing or capillary moulding. The patterned PEG surfaces have shown 97 +/- 0.5% reduction in lipid adsorption onto two dimensional surfaces and 95 +/- 1.2% reduction inside microfluidic channels in comparison to glass control. Atomic force microscopy measurements indicated that the deposition of lipid vesicles led to the formation of SLB membranes by vesicle fusion due to hydrophilic interactions with the exposed substrate. Furthermore, the functionality of the patterned SLBs was tested by measuring the binding interactions between biotin (ligand)-labeled lipid bilayer and streptavidin (receptor). SLB arrays were fabricated with spatial resolution down to approximately 500 nm on flat substrate and approximately 1 microm inside microfluidic channels, respectively.     

Phase dependent electrochemical properties of polar self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) modified via the fusion of mixed phospholipid vesicles

Unilamellar vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and varying quantities of either 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol) (sodium salt) (DMPG) or 1,2-dimyristoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (chloride salt) (DMTAP) were used to deposit lipid bilayer assemblies on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. The supporting SAMs in turn were composed of ferrocene-functionalized hexadecanethiol chains (FcC16SH) diluted to low coverage in 1-hydroxylhexadecanethiol (HOC16SH) or a single-component monolayer phase of the latter. The mass coverages of the DMPC/DMPG layers deposited in this way were measured using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and found to decrease with an increasing content of DMPG in the vesicles. The SPR data show that the lipid assembly, while stable with respect to gentle rinsing in aqueous buffer, is reversible and the lipid adlayer is removable by immersion in a solvent such as ethanol. The effects of the adsorbed lipid layer on the electrochemical interactions of the hybrid lipid/SAM with several redox probes [e.g., K4Fe(CN)6, Ru(NH3)6Cl3, and CsHsFe-[(C5H4CH2N+H(CH3)2] were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV). At a composition of 5% DMPG in DMPC, the permeabilities of the probes through the lipid layer were affected significantly relative to that observed with a pure DMPC layer. These effects include a striking observation of an enhanced, ionic-charge-specific molecular discrimination of the electrochemical probes. At higher concentrations of the DMPG, significant permeation of the lipid adlayer was seen for all the probes. These latter changes are also attended by a significant increase in the capacitive currents measured in CV experiments as compared to those observed for either a pure SAM or one modified by only DMPC. This effect likely results from the influence of the charged lipid on the diffuse Gouy-Chapman electrolyte layer at the SAM interface. In contrast to the behaviors seen with DMPG, the incorporation of DMTAP into the adsorbed DMPC had no impact on the permeation of the adlayer by soluble redox probes as judged by the observed electrochemistry, a result that appears to correlate with a less ideal mixing of lipids in the DMPC/DMTAP system relative to that of a DMPC/DMPG mixture.     

STABILIZATION OF LIPID BILAYERS ON SURFACES THROUGH CHARGED POLYMERS

ABSTRACT

It is our concept to use a polymer as a hydrophilic cushion to stabilize a lipid bilayer on a solid support. This can be accomplished by using polyacrylamides with disulfides and DMPE anchors as a hydrophilic cushion. These polymers have the additional functionalities to chemisorb on gold surfaces through the disulfides and to bind a lipid bilayer on it through the insertion of the lipid anchors into the lipid bilayer. This paper shows that a polymer with the additional functionality of charged groups increases the attraction of vesicles to form a tethered supported lipid bilayer. By varying the amount of charged groups in the polymer, we are able to control the hydrophilic behavior of the polymer and therefore are able to change the wetting on a surface. This was examined by measuring the contact angles. Using the technique of the surface plasmon spectroscopy, we are able to monitor the process of vesicle fusion on the polymer support.     

Formation of ordered self-assembled monolayers by adsorption of octylthiocyanates on Au(111)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were formed by the spontaneous adsorption of octythiocyanate (OTC) on Au(111) using both solution and ambient-pressure vapor deposition methods at room temperature and 50 degrees C. The surface structures and adsorption characteristics of the OTC SAMs on Au(111) were characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The STM observation showed that OTC SAMs formed in solution at room temperature have unique surface structures including the formation of ordered and disordered domains, vacancy islands, and structural defects. Moreover, we revealed for the first time that the adsorption of OTC on Au(111) in solution at 50 degrees C led to the formation of SAMs containing small ordered domains, whereas the SAMs formed by vapor deposition at 50 degrees C had long-range ordered domains, which can be described as (radical3 x 2 radical19)R5 degrees structures. XPS measurements of the peaks in the S 2p and N 1s regions for the OTC SAMs showed that vapor deposition is the more effective method as compared to solution deposition for obtaining high-quality SAMs by adsorption of OTC on gold. The results obtained will be very useful in understanding the SAM formation of organic thiocyanates on gold surfaces.     

Microcontact printing for creation of patterned lipid bilayers on tetraethylene glycol self-assembled monolayers

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) formed on many different substrates have been widely used in the study of lipid bilayers. However, most SLBs suffer from inhomogeneities due to interactions between the lipid bilayer and the substrate. In order to avoid this problem, we have used microcontact printing to create patterned SLBs on top of ethylene-glycol-terminated self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Glycol-terminated SAMs have previously been shown to resist absorbance of biomolecules including lipid vesicles. In our system, patterned lipid bilayer regions are separated by lipid monolayers, which form over the patterned hexadecanethiol portions of the surface. Furthermore, we demonstrate that α-hemolysin, a large transmembrane protein, inserts preferentially into the lipid bilayer regions of the substrate.