title: A silicate gel for promoting deposition of lipid bilayers.
abstract: A simple method for modifying a polymer surface to induce lipid bilayer formation by vesicle fusion is described. A silicate gel was prepared by condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) in the presence of acid. When applied to a poly(methylmethacrylate) substrate, either a rough or a smooth layer could be produced, depending on the method used for the application. The smooth surface induced formation of a supported lipid bilayer by fusion of lipid vesicles; the rough silicate surface induced adsorption of a vesicle layer. A high-frequency acoustic waveguide device was used to follow the initial adsorption of vesicles, the transition from a vesicle layer to a bilayer, and the formation of a complete bilayer; the time required to form a bilayer was determined as a function of lipid concentration in suspension. The presence of a bilayer on the smooth silicate surface was confirmed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. An additional procedure is described to modify a gold surface to induce bilayer formation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Melzak
authors.forename: Electra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gizeli
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D005782:Gels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D017640:Silicates
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D017640:Silicates; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; C028694:1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine