Abstract
Biological cell membranes are complex systems that consist primarily of a phospholipid bilayer, into which cholesterol, proteins etc. may be integrated. Due to the complexity of biological cell membranes, it is desirable to develop model membrane systems that can be more easily studied. Scaffolded vesicles are an example of such a system. A scaffolded vesicle model membrane system offers a number of advantages with respect to other model systems. By using a porous material as the scaffold, one can achieve an aqueous environment on both sides of the model membrane. This allows for the study of membrane transport processes. The scaffolds porosity may also allow one to more easily integrate transmembrane proteins into the bilayer. Importantly, such a system would remain accessible to both electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. Using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, the orientation of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) coated on the porous scaffold (as a 70:30 DMPC:cholesterol bilayer) will be determined. Proteins may then be incorporated into the bilayer of the scaffolded model membrane system for study.
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