Continuous planar phospholipid bilayer supported on porous silicon thin film reflector.
Reconstituting artificial membranes for in vitro studies of cell barrier mechanisms and properties is of major interest in biology. Here, artificial membranes supported on porous silicon photonic crystal reflectors are prepared and investigated. The materials are of interest for label-free probing of supported membrane events such as protein binding, molecular recognition, and transport. The porous silicon substrates are prepared as multilayered films consisting of a periodically varying porosity, with pore dimensions of a few nanometers in size. Planar phospholipid bilayers are deposited on the topmost surface of the oxidized hydrophilic mesoporous silicon films. Atomic force microscopy provides evidence of continuous bilayer deposition at the surface, and optical measurements indicate that the lipids do not significantly infiltrate the porous region. The presence of the supported bilayer does not obstruct the optical spectrum from the porous silicon layer, suggesting that the composite structures can act as effective optical biosensors.
Cunin
Frédérique
F
Institut Charles Gerhardt, UMR 5253 CNRS/ENSCM/UM2/UM1, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, France. frederique.cunin@enscm.fr
Milhiet
Pierre-Emmanuel
PE
Anglin
Emily
E
Sailor
Michael J
MJ
Espenel
Cédric
C
Le Grimellec
Christian
C
Brunel
Daniel
D
Devoisselle
Jean-Marie
JM
D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids; D012825:Silicon