Microstructured lipid bilayers
ABSTRACT
The phase transition of individually addressable microstructured lipid bilayers was investigated by means of non-contact imaging ellipsometry. 2-D membrane compartments were created on silicon substrates by micromolding in capillaries and the thermotropic behavior of various saturated diacyl phosphatidylcholines (DPPC, diC15PC, DMPC) as well as mixed DMPC/cholesterol membranes was determined measuring area expansion and thickness of the bilayer as a function of temperature. We found an increase in the phase transition temperature of 2 – 6 °C as compared with liposomes and a reduced melting cooperativity. Individually addressable microstructured lipid bilayers are clearly advantageous over conventional bilayer preparation techniques if precise measurements are needed.
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The phase transition of individually addressable microstructured lipid bilayers was investigated by means of non-contact imaging ellipsometry. 2-D membrane compartments were created on silicon substrates by micromolding in capillaries and the thermotropic behavior of various saturated diacyl phosphatidylcholines (DPPC, diC15PC, DMPC) as well as mixed DMPC/cholesterol membranes was determined measuring area expansion and thickness of the bilayer as a function of temperature. We found an increase in the phase transition temperature of 2 – 6 °C as compared with liposomes and a reduced melting cooperativity. Individually addressable microstructured lipid bilayers are clearly advantageous over conventional bilayer preparation techniques if precise measurements are needed.
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Application Note Microstructured