SELF-ASSEMBLED PHOSPHOLIPID ALKANETHIOL BIOMIMETIC BILAYERS ON GOLD

Alkanethiols can act as hydrophobic monolayer substrates for the formation of phospholipid-containing bilayers. Phospholipid vesicles were allowed to fuse to alkanethiol monolayers, resulting in stable, solvent-free lipid bilayers on gold electrodes. The capacitance of these bilayers has been determined by impedance measurements, and the effect of the pore-forming peptide melittin on the bilayer has been determined by the measurement of faradaic current. These supported self-assembling phospholipid/alkanethiol bilayers demonstrate properties consistent with those of fluid membranes, and provide a useful way to study the electrical characteristics of membranes in the absence of solvent.