Breathable NIPAAm Network with Controllable Hydration Supports Model Lipid Membrane

ORAL

Abstract

The interaction of a model lipid bilayer composed of DPPC with a surface-tethered poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAAm) was explored with neutron reflectometry (NR). The Langmuir-Blodgett / Langmuir-Schaeffer method was used to deposit a lipid bilayer onto the polymer. NR measurements were used to probe the in- and out-of-plane structure of the system as a function of temperature. NR with fluorescence microscopy show that the polymer supports a lipid bilayer, and hydration of the support can be controlled. At low temp. the membrane develops out-of-plane undulations visible in off-specular scattering. Analysis of the off-specular reveals in-plane correlation of the bilayer fluctuations. The separation of the lipid bilayer from the solid support of a substrate constitutes a significant step towards a more realistic model of biological membranes.

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Authors

  • Michael Jablin

    • Lujan Neutron Scattering Center

  • Hillary Smith

    • Lujan Neutron Scattering Center

  • Mikhail Zhernenkov

    • LANL
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Lujan Neutron Scattering Center

  • Ajay Vidyasagar

    • University of South Florida

  • Ryan Toomey

    • University of South Florida

  • Jessica Saiz

    • Lujan Neutron Scattering Center

  • Boris Toperverg

    • Ruhr Universitat Bochum

  • Erik Watkins

    • University of California, Davis

  • Tonya Kuhl

    • University of California, Davis

  • Alan Hurd

    • Lujan Neutron Scattering Center

  • Jaroslaw Majewski

    • LANL
    • Lujan Neutron Scattering Center