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Biophys. J. BioFAST: First Published March 7, 2008. doi:10.1529/biophysj.107.122887
© 2008 by the Biophysical Society.

A more recent version of this article appeared on June 15, 2008.
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MEMBRANES

AFM study on the electric-field effects on supported bilayer lipid membranes

Lars J C Jeuken 1*

1 University of Leeds

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: l.j.c.jeuken{at}leeds.ac.uk.

Submitted on September 28, 2007
Revised on November 19, 2007
Accepted on 8 February 2008


  Abstract
Electric-field induced changes in structure and conductivity of supported bilayer lipid membranes (SLM) have been studied at submicroscopic resolution using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The SLMs are formed on gold surfaces modified with mixed self-assembled monolayers of a cholesterol-tether and 6-mercaptohexanol (6MH). At applied potentials of ≤-0.25 V versus Standard Hydrogen Electrode (SHE), the conductance of the SLM increases and membrane areas of less than 150 nm in size are found to elevate from the surface up to 15 nm in heigth. To estimate the electric field experienced by the lipid membrane, electrowetting has been used to determine the point of zero charge of a 6MH-modified surface (0.19 ± 0.13 V vs SHE). The effects of electric fields on the structure and conductance of supported membranes are discussed.

Key Words: atomic force microscopy, contact angle, electroporation, impedance spectroscopy, point of zero charge, tethered bilayer lipid membranes






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Copyright © 2008 by the Biophysical Society.