Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 16: Poster Session I

BP 16.24: Poster

Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 17:00–19:30, Poster D

Detecting lipid bilayer formation and expansion by a microfabricated cantilever array — Ioana Pera and •Jürgen Fritz — International University Bremen, D-28759, Bremen, Germany (Jacobs University Bremen, as of Spring 2007)

Biological applications of cantilever array sensors focus mainly on the detection of nucleic acids or proteins. We want to apply cantilever array sensors to the investigation of mechanical properties of lipid bilayers. Supported lipid bilayers formed on solid surfaces are model systems for cellular membranes and are often used as biosensor coatings. The investigation of mechanical properties of cellular membranes, e.g. their fluidity, rigidity, stretching and bending, can give novel insights into biological processes such as cell adhesion, exocytosis, or initiation of viral infection [1].

Here we report on lipid bilayer formation on the surface of microfabricated cantilevers and the related surface functionalizations [2]. Bilayer formation by vesicle fusion on top of cantilevers resulted in different bending strengths (between several 10 nm to several 100 nm) and bending directions (tensile or compressive) of the cantilevers. The bending depended mainly on the surface on which the bilayers were formed, i.e. if they were physisorbed on the silicon oxide or chemisorbed on the gold surface of cantilevers. First experiments on further modification of bilayers with the pore forming peptide melittin will be discussed.

[1] H.T. McMahon, J.L. Gallop, Nature 438 (2005) 590.

[2] J. Fritz, I. Pera, Langmuir 2006 (web release 09-Dec-2006).