Abstract
Physisorbed polymer-tethered lipid bilayers consisting of phospholipids and lipopolymers represent an attractive planar model membrane platform, in which bilayer fluidity and membrane elastic properties can be regulated through lipopolymer molar concentration. Herein we report a method for the fabrication of such a planar model membrane system with a lateral gradient of lipopolymer density. In addition, a procedure is described, which leads to a sharp boundary between regions of low and high lipopolymer molar concentrations. Resulting gradients and sharp boundaries are visualized on the basis of membrane buckling structures at elevated lipopolymer concentrations using epifluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, results from spot photobleaching experiments are presented, which provide insight into the lipid lateral fluidity in these model membrane architectures. The presented experimental data highlight a planar, solid-supported membrane characterized by fascinating length scale-dependent dynamics and elastic properties with remarkable parallels to those observed in cellular membranes.
Highlights
The surface functionalization of solid and polymeric materials with biomembrane-mimicking supramolecular assemblies has fascinated research groups for nearly three decades
The formation of these structures was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and was explained in terms of a stress relaxation phenomenon caused by stress-inducing inducing lipopolymers in the membrane system
Poly(2-ethyl--2-oxazoline), buckling structures were resolvable by epifluorescence microscopy (EPI)
Summary
The surface functionalization of solid and polymeric materials with biomembrane-mimicking supramolecular assemblies has fascinated research groups for nearly three decades. Such model membrane architectures represent an intriguing interface between the biological world and a broad range of highly sensitive biophysical detection techniques, and have potential significance in different biotechnological applications [1]. They enable the characterization of biomembrane properties under well-defined conditions. The solid-supported phospholipid bilayer represents one of the simplest types of biomembrane-mimicking supramolecular assemblies on a solid substrate. Prominent examples include the characterization of processes associated with T-cell signaling [3,4], vesicle adhesion [5], and biosensor applications [6]
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