title: Impedance analysis of valinomycin activity in nano-BLMs.
abstract: Nano-black lipid membranes (nano-BLMs) were obtained by functionalization of highly ordered porous alumina substrates with an average pore diameter of 60nm based on a self-assembled alkanethiol submonolayer followed by spreading of 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine dissolved in n-decane on the hydrophobic substrate. By means of impedance spectroscopy, we analyzed the influence of the self-assembled alkanethiol submonolayer on the electrical properties of the nano-BLMs as well as their long-term stability. We were able to stably integrate nano-BLMs into a flow through system, which allowed us to readily exchange buffer solutions several times and accounts for mass transport phenomena. The ionophore valinomycin was successfully inserted into nano-BLMs and its transport activity monitored as a function of different potassium and sodium ion concentrations reflecting the specificity of valinomycin for potassium ions.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Göttingen, Tammannstr. 2, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kepplinger
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Höfer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinem
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D017097:Electric Impedance; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D017136:Ion Transport; D007476:Ionophores / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010742:Phospholipid Ethers / Q000737:chemistry; D011188:Potassium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C052298:1,2-dihexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine; D007476:Ionophores; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010742:Phospholipid Ethers; D014634:Valinomycin; D012964:Sodium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D011188:Potassium