Abstract
Model membrane systems are essential tools for the study of biological processes in a simplified setting to reveal the underlying physicochemical principles. As cell-derived membrane systems, giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) constitute an intermediate model between live cells and fully artificial structures. Certain applications, however, require planar membrane surfaces. Here, we report a new approach for creating supported plasma membrane bilayers (SPMBs) by bursting cell-derived GPMVs using ultrasound within a microfluidic device. We show that the mobility of outer leaflet molecules is preserved in SPMBs, suggesting that they are accessible on the surface of the bilayers. Such model membrane systems are potentially useful in many applications requiring detailed characterization of plasma membrane dynamics.
Highlights
Artificial model membranes are useful tools for understanding cell membrane function and structure [1]
We propose a novel and straightforward approach for creating supported plasma membrane bilayers (SPMBs)
It relies on the bursting of cell-derived giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) on a plasma-cleaned glass surface, using acoustic radiation forces that originate from an ultrasonic standing wave field [24]
Summary
Artificial model membranes are useful tools for understanding cell membrane function and structure [1] Their controllable composition facilitates the study of the role of specific molecules. A common difficulty with all of these approaches is controlling which leaflet of the plasma membrane presents outwards (i.e., away from the support) which is essential when these systems are used to study molecular interactions To address this challenge, we propose a novel and straightforward approach for creating supported plasma membrane bilayers (SPMBs). We propose a novel and straightforward approach for creating supported plasma membrane bilayers (SPMBs) It relies on the bursting of cell-derived GPMVs on a plasma-cleaned glass surface, using acoustic radiation forces that originate from an ultrasonic standing wave field [24]. Upon testing the diffusion of lipids as well as proteins in these SPMBs, we confirmed that the outer leaflet molecules are diffusive
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