Supported Hybrid Bilayer Membranes as Rugged Cell Membrane Mimics

• DOI: 10.1021/la981662t
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T05:42:57Z
• Authors: Anne L. Plant
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Supported planar lipid bilayers based on alkanethiol-tethering chemistry are becoming increasingly important biomimetic materials. Hybrid bilayers containing thiol-derivatized alkane moieties plus natural lipids provide a biomimetic matrix that permits the successful reconstitution of membrane protein activity. The hybrid membrane is self-assembled and sufficiently rugged to be of practical use in research and in commercial sensing applications. The coupling of the bilayer to a metal support allows a wide range of analytical techniques to be applied to this model membrane. This article reviews some of the fundamental studies of the formation, structure, and response of hybrid bilayer membranes.