Atomic-scale structure of interfacial water on gel and liquid phase lipid membranes

Hydration of biological membranes is essential to a wide range of biological processes. In particular, it is intrinsically linked to lipid thermodynamic properties, which in turn influence key cell functions such as ion permeation and protein mobility. Experimental and theoretical studies of the surface of biomembranes have revealed the presence of an interfacial repulsive force, which has been linked to hydration or steric effects. Here, we directly characterise the atomic-scale structure of water near supported lipid membranes of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in their gel and liquid phase through three-dimensional atomic force microscopy (3D AFM). First, we demonstrate the ability to probe the morphology of interfacial water of lipid bilayers in both phases with sub-molecular resolution by using ultrasharp tips. We then visualise the molecular arrangement of water at the lipid surface at different temperatures. Our experiments reveal that water is organised in multiple hydration layers on both the solid-ordered and liquid-disordered lipid phases. Furthermore, we observe a monotonic repulsive force, which becomes relevant only in the liquid phase. These results offer new insights into the water structuring near soft biological surfaces, and demonstrate the importance of investigating it with vertical and lateral sub-molecular resolution.