Nanobiotechnology of Biomimetic Membranes

PREFACE

CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS

The Significance of Biomimetic Membrane Nanobiotechnology to Biomedical Applications

1.1. Introduction

1.2. Interaction of Lipid Membranes with Transport Proteins

1.3. Reaction of Eukaryotic Cells to the Physical Environment

1.3.1. Example of the Influence of Membrane Ion Channels on the Biology of Endothelial Cells

1.3.2. Mechanical Transduction of Stress in Lipid Bilayers

1.4. What is the Relevance of Lipid Bilayer Membranes to Nanotechnology?

1.5. Can Biosensor Technology Benefit from Biomimetic Membrane Nanobiotechnology?

1.6. Does Biomimetic Membrane Nanobiotechnology Assist in Drug Delivery?

1.7. Can Implants Benefit from Biomimetic Membrane Nanobiotechnology?

1.8. Concluding Remarks

References

Langmuir-Blodgett Technique for Synthesis of Biomimetic Lipid Membranes

2.1. Introduction

2.2. Langmuir Monolayer Formation

2.2.1. Surface Tension

2.2.2. Surfactants

2.2.3. Surface Pressure

2.2.4. Surface Pressure ( ) – Area ( A) Isotherms

2.2.5. Monolayer Stability

2.3. Langmuir-Blodgett Technique

2.3.1. Vertical Film Deposition Principles

2.3.2. Elaboration of Organised Lipidic LB Films

2.3.3. Phospholipid LB Films

2.3.4. Free Supported Phospholipid LB Films

2.3.5. Asymmetric Phospholipid LB Bilayers

2.4. Functionalisation of Lipidic LB Films: Specific Features

2.4.1. Protein Association with the Floating Monolayer before LB Deposition

2.4.2. Protein Association onto Preformed-Lipidic LB Films

2.4.3. Oriented Protein Association in Lipidic LB Films

2.5. Trends and Prospects

References

Liposome Techniques for Synthesis of Biomimetic Lipid Membranes

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Applications and Uses of Liposomes

3.3. Liposome Structure is Influenced by its Phospholipid Composition

3.4. Common Terminology Used in the Description of Liposome Structure

3.5. Liposome Preparation

3.5.1. Preparation of Multilamellar Vesicles

3.5.2. Preparation of Unilamellar Vesicles

3.5.3. Preparation of Giant Unilamellar Liposomes

3.5.4. Modified Liposomes

3.5.5. Purification of Liposomes

References

Characterization and Analysis of Biomimetic Membranes

4.1. Important Properties of Biomimetic Membranes

4.2. Methods of Characterization and Analysis

4.2.1. A Few Thoughts

4.2.2. Atomic Force Microscopy

4.2.3. Quartz Crystal Microbalance

4.2.4. Surface Force Apparatus

4.2.5. Ellipsometry

4.2.6. Surface Plasmon Resonance

4.3. Coverage and Mass

4.4. Morphology and Mechanical Properties

4.4.1. Imaging and a Few Common Artefacts

4.4.2. Surface Forces and Continuum Mechanics; AFM Simulation

4.4.3. Mechanical Properties

4.5. A Brief Outlook

References

Biomimetic Membranes in Biosensor Applications

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Biosensors

5.2.1. Classes of Biosensors

5.2.2. Why Biomimetic Membranes for Biosensing Applications?

5.3. Biomimetic Membranes for Biosensor Applications

5.3.1. Hybrid Bilayer Lipid Membranes (Supported Lipid Monolayers)

5.3.2. Solid Supported “Floating” Bilayer Lipid Membranes

5.3.3. Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes

5.3.4. Laterally Structured Bilayer Lipid Membranes

5.4. Catalytic and Affinity Biosensors Fabricated using Supported Bilayer Lipid Membranes

5.4.1. Catalytic Biosensors based on Supported BLMs

5.4.2. Affinity Biosensors

5.4.3. General Remarks on Supported BLMs for Biosensing Applications

5.5. Membrane Biosensors Based on Ion Channel Gating

5.5.1. Signal Transduction via Ion Channels

5.5.2. Taking Biosensors a Step Further: The AMBRI Ion Channel Switch Biosensor

5.6. Concluding Remarks

References

About the Contributors

Index