Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are composed of a bilayer of phospholipid molecules supported on a silicon dioxide surface. Although it is known that many experimental factors including pH, ionic strength, lipid headgroup, and surface affect whether an SLB will form the exact mechanism for the formation of these model biological membranes is unknown. Work carried out by other researchers using fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy has previously shown that SLBs form in two steps with intact vesicles adsorbing onto the surface before rupturing to form a continuous bilayer. In the literature it is often stated that a critical coverage of adsorbed vesicles is required before rupture can begin, though there is little experimental evidence to back up this assertion. We have carried out a series of experiments in which we interrupted and then restarted the flow of phospholipid vesicles over the silicon dioxide surface and used a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to monitor the adsorption and rupture of phospholipid vesicles on the surface. Our experiments show that it is possible to understand the formation of an SLB without having to invoke the need for a critical concentration of adsorbed vesicles to be reached before the vesicles begin to rupture.

Investigating the role of a critical vesicle concentration in the formation of supported lipid bilayers

2019 Spring National Meeting

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