title: Formation of nanopore-spanning lipid bilayers through liposome fusion.
abstract: Self-assembly of nanopore-spanning lipid bilayers (npsLBs) paves the way toward chip-based integrated membrane protein biosensing. We present a novel approach to analyze the formation of npsLB at individual nanopores using quantitative analysis of high-resolution microscopy images. From this analysis we derive necessary conditions for the formation of npsLBs on nanopore arrays by liposome fusion and discuss the limitations of the process as a function of nanopore geometry, lipid membrane properties, and surface interaction. Most importantly, applying liposomes with diameters larger than the nanopore is demonstrated to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for npsLB formation. A theoretical model is used to discuss and explain this experimental finding.
authors: Department of Materials, Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Karthik
authors: K
authors: Kumar
authors: Lucio
authors: L
authors: Isa
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Egner
authors: Roman
authors: R
authors: Schmidt
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Textor
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Reimhult
mesh_terms: D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry*; D058608:Nanopores; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008081:Liposomes