title: Construction and characterization of soft-supported lipid bilayer membranes for biosensors application.
abstract: A model cell membrane can be ingeniously used to mimic biological processes with wide applications in the biomedical field. For instance, a model cell membrane can be used as a functionalized element integrated to a sensor for identification of specific proteins or other molecules in a biofluid. A special characteristic of the model membrane described in this work is the fluidic or surface mobility feature given by a thin film of grafted polymer that serves as a cushion layer to support lipid bilayers. Lipid bilayers were deposited on a polyethylene glycol (PEG) thin film over a polished glass substrate using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique. Topographical characterization of the bilayers was accomplished using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results revealed that the grafted polymeric PEG cushion layer confers mobility to the model membrane.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Chem. Eng., Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. jimenezj@eng.usf.edu
authors.forename: Jeffy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: August J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: W Garrett
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alcantar
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D005898:Glass; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008954:Models, Biological; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols