title: Molecular structure influences the stability of membrane penetrating biointerfaces.
abstract: Nanoscale patterning of hydrophobic bands on otherwise hydrophilic surfaces allows integration of inorganic structures through biological membranes, reminiscent of transmembrane proteins. Here we show that a set of innate molecular properties of the self-assembling hydrophobic band determine the resulting interface stability. Surprisingly, hydrophobicity is found to be a secondary factor with monolayer crystallinity the major determinate of interface strength. These results begin to establish guidelines for seamless bioinorganic integration of nanoscale probes with lipid membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Almquist
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Melosh
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D032701:Biomimetics; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D008563:Membrane Lipids