title: Characterization of biological thin films at the solid-liquid interface by x-ray reflectivity.
abstract: We demonstrate that 18 keV x-rays can be used to study organic thin films at the solid-liquid interface by x-ray reflectivity. We establish that this is a powerful technique for investigating biological systems in a previously inaccessible manner. Our measurements enabled the density distribution of single phospholipid bilayer membranes in bulk water to be measured with unprecedented precision. Previously, characterization of biomimetic structures normal to a "buried" interface was a domain of neutron reflectivity.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majewski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gog
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kuhl
mesh_terms: D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines