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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
10:34
Ligand Nano-cluster Arrays in a Supported Lipid Bilayer
Published on: April 23, 2017
Mechanistic Control of Cell Adhesion at Ligand-free Soft Membrane Interfaces
Martín E Villanueva1, Derick Yongabi2, Jean-Marie Ruysschaert3,4
1Experimental Soft Matter and Thermal Physics (EST) group, Department of Physics, Université libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Triomphe CP223, Brussels1050, Belgium.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Cell adhesion to soft membranes involves electrostatics and viscoelasticity. We show these distinct mechanisms govern two adhesion stages, controllable via membrane composition for tunable cell-membrane interactions.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Soft Matter Physics
- Surface Science
Background:
- Cell adhesion at soft interfaces is complex, with interaction forces and interfacial dynamics difficult to separate.
- Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) with controlled composition, including glycolipids like ohmline (OHM), serve as model membrane systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate yeast cell (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) adhesion on SLBs with varying compositions.
- Differentiate the roles of electrostatic interactions and membrane viscoelasticity in cell adhesion.
- Establish a quantitative framework linking adhesion kinetics to intrinsic membrane properties.
Main Methods:
- Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) for adsorption kinetics.
- Dilatational rheology for interfacial characterization.
- Interfacial characterization including zeta potential and dilatational modulus measurements.
Main Results:
- Adhesion occurs in two kinetically distinct regimes: initial electrostatic interactions (zeta potential-dependent) and subsequent viscoelastic relaxation (dilatational modulus-dependent).
- Membrane composition modulates hydration, packing, and dissipation, influencing adhesion.
- OHM-containing membranes show increased sensitivity to ionic conditions and stronger cell-membrane coupling.
- Mixed membranes allow decoupling of adhesion stages via interplay between electrostatics and viscoelasticity.
Conclusions:
- Adhesion kinetics are quantitatively linked to membrane properties like zeta potential and viscoelasticity.
- Electrostatics and viscoelasticity govern distinct, complementary adhesion regimes.
- Cell adhesion at soft interfaces is tunable via membrane composition, independent of specific ligands.
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