title: Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of lipid bilayers in water with an alumina- and silver-coated tungsten tip.
abstract: Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) of supported phospholipid bilayers in an aqueous environment is discussed in this paper. Two bilayer membranes were examined: 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC). We fabricated alumina- and silver-coated tungsten tips that are very robust in water. There was a large time-dependence in the TERS spectra for the DOPC bilayers, whereas no such time-dependence was observed in the DPPC bilayer spectra under the probe tip. The spectral changes of DOPC bilayers are discussed in terms of the fluidity of the liquid crystalline phase. Time-resolved TERS thus has the potential to characterize inhomogeneity and diffusion in fluidic phospholipid bilayer membranes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chiba University.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomoto
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toyota
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujinami
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014414:Tungsten / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids; D014867:Water; D012834:Silver; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D014414:Tungsten