Frustrated Phase Transformations in Supported, Interdigitating Lipid Bilayers

Polydopamine-Supported Lipid Bilayers

We report the formation of lipid membranes supported by a soft polymeric cushion of polydopamine. First, 20 nm thick polydopamine films were formed on mica substrates. Atomic force microscopy imaging indicated that these films were also soft with a surface roughness of 2 nm under hydrated conditions. A zwitterionic phospholipid bilayer was then deposited on the polydopamine cushion by fusion of...

Titration force microscopy on supported lipid bilayers.

The use of chemically modified atomic force microscopy (AFM) probes allows us to measure the surface charges of supported planar lipid bilayers with high sensitivity through the force spectroscopy operation mode. By controlling the chemistry of the tip, we can perform a classical analytical chemistry titration where the titration agent is a weak acid (attached to the AFM tip) with the particula...

Formation of supported lipid bilayers on silica: relation to lipid phase transition temperature and liposome size.

DPPC liposomes ranging from 90 nm to 160 nm in diameter were prepared and used for studies of the formation of supported lipid membranes on silica (SiO2) at temperatures below and above the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition temperature (Tm = 41 °C), and by applying temperature gradients through Tm. The main method was the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. ...

Salt-induced lipid transfer between colloidal supported lipid bilayers†

Phase-separation transitions in asymmetric lipid bilayers

Morphological transitions of phase separation associated with the asymmetry of lipid composition were investigated using micrometer-sized vesicles of lipid bilayers made from a lipid mixture. The complete macro-phase-separated morphology undergoes a transition to a micro-phase-separation-like morphology via a lorate morphology as a metastable state. The transition leads to the emergence of mono...