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Updated: May 15, 2026

Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers
Published on: July 22, 2015
Unraveling supported lipid bilayer formation kinetics: osmotic effects
Nicole Hain1, Marta Gallego, Ilya Reviakine
1CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo Miramón 182, San Sebastián 20009, Spain.
Abstract:
Solid-supported lipid bilayers are used as cell membrane models and form the basis of biomimetic and biosensor platforms. The mechanism of their formation from adsorbed liposomes is not well-understood. Using membrane-permeable solute glycerol, impermeable solutes sucrose and dextran, and a pore forming peptide melittin, we studied experimentally how osmotic effects affect the kinetics of the adsorbed liposome-to-bilayer transition. We find that its rate is enhanced if adsorbed liposomes are made permeable but is not significantly retarded by impermeable solutes. The results are explained in terms of adsorbed liposome deformation and formation of transmembrane pores.
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