title: Functional tethered bilayer lipid membranes on aluminum oxide.
abstract: Tethered bilayer lipid membranes are established as well-suited model membrane systems adaptable to different surfaces, for example, gold and silicon. These solid supported membranes are highly flexible in their tethering and lipid parts and can thus be optimized for functional incorporation of membrane proteins. The excellent sealing properties of the tethered membranes allow incorporated ion-channel proteins to be investigated. Preparation of ultrasmooth aluminum oxide by sputtering and synthesis of new tethering lipids with phosphonic acid anchor groups enable formation of an electrically sealing membrane on this surface. This process is monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. High sealing performance of the membrane and functional incorporation of the ion carrier valinomycin are demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Department, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55118 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Roskamp
authors.forename: Inga K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Vockenroth
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eisenmenger
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braunagel
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Köper
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D004583:Electrons; D005995:Glyceryl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D015394:Molecular Structure; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005995:Glyceryl Ethers; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D014634:Valinomycin; D000537:Aluminum Oxide