title: X-ray structure analysis of free-standing lipid membranes facilitated by micromachined apertures.
abstract: 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.
authors: Institut für Röntgenphysik, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Beerlink
authors: P-J
authors: PJ
authors: Wilbrandt
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ziegler
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Carbone
authors: T H
authors: TH
authors: Metzger
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Salditt
mesh_terms: D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008055:Lipids; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D012825:Silicon