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Atomic Force Microscopy Imaging and Force Spectroscopy of Supported Lipid Bilayers
Published on: July 22, 2015
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Ripple formation in unilamellar-supported lipid bilayer revealed by FRAPP
Frédéric Harb1, Anne Simon, Bernard Tinland
1CNRS, UMR7325, Aix-Marseille Univ., CINaM, 13288, Marseille, France.
The European Physical Journal. E, Soft Matter
|December 18, 2013
Summary
Researchers discovered a new ripple phase in lipid bilayers driven solely by bilayer/support interactions. This finding, observed via FRAPP and AFM, has implications for understanding lipid behavior in medicine and pharmaceuticals.
Area of Science:
- Thermodynamics
- Materials Science
- Biophysics
Background:
- The ripple phase in lipid bilayers is a critical area of study with significant thermodynamic and pharmaceutical implications.
- Understanding the formation mechanisms and existence conditions of the ripple phase is essential for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a novel instance of ripple phase formation in supported unilamellar bilayers.
- To elucidate the role of bilayer/support interactions in inducing the ripple phase, independent of lipid mixtures or specific ions.
Main Methods:
- Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAPP) was employed to measure the diffusion coefficient as a function of temperature.
- Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was utilized to visually confirm the presence of the ripple phase.
Main Results:
- A distinct diffusivity plateau was observed using FRAPP within a specific temperature range, indicating the formation of the ripple phase.
- AFM experiments corroborated the existence of the ripple phase at the same temperature range.
- The ripple phase formation was attributed solely to the interaction between the bilayer and its support.
Conclusions:
- A new mechanism for ripple phase formation in lipid bilayers, driven by substrate interactions, has been identified.
- This discovery provides fundamental insights into lipid phase behavior and has potential applications in medicine and pharmaceuticals.
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