X-ray structure analysis of free-standing lipid membranes facilitated by micromachined apertures.
Silicon and Teflon substrates have been structured by wet etching and a focused ion beam (FIB) to obtain very defined, clean apertures. Planar, free-standing lipid membranes (black lipid membranes (BLM)) with enhanced long-term stability have been prepared on these apertures by the methods of Montal and Müller(1,2) as well as Müller and Rudin.(3) The stability and geometric control enables the use of X-ray analysis of free-standing single bilayers. With the presented setup, simultaneous structural and electrophysiological measurements will become feasible.
Beerlink
André
A
Institut für Röntgenphysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Wilbrandt
P-J
PJ
Ziegler
E
E
Carbone
D
D
Metzger
T H
TH
Salditt
Tim
T
D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D014965:X-Rays
D007477:Ions; D008055:Lipids; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012825:Silicon