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Title: Effect of a polymer cushion on the electrical properties and stability of surface-supported lipid bilayers. Author: Lin J, Szymanski J, Searson PC, Hristova K. Journal: Langmuir; 2010 Mar 02; 26(5):3544-8. PubMed ID: 20175577. Abstract: A robust biomimetic cell membrane platform is critical for mechanistic studies of membrane protein channels. While polymer cushions are believed to facilitate the incorporation of membrane proteins in such a platform, a systematic characterization and optimization of such cushions is rarely performed. Here, we examine the influence of a polymer cushion on the electrical properties of supported 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPhPC) bilayers produced via a Langmuir-Blodgett deposition/vesicle fusion assembly process on single-crystal silicon. We show that the resistance of DPhPC bilayers is maximized at the calculated crossover concentration of the polymer (5.9 mol % PEG-lipids). Additionally, these bilayers are sufficiently stable to allow impedance analyses to be performed for nearly 3 weeks. These studies reveal the optimal PEG concentration that yields electrically robust bilayers and demonstrate the utility of the platform for future studies of membrane protein channels and membrane active peptides.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]