T. Hianik et al., ELECTROSTRICTION AND MEMBRANE-POTENTIAL OF LIPID BILAYERS ON A METAL-SUPPORT, Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 106(2-3), 1996, pp. 109-118
Using the electrostriction method we have studied the elasticity modul
us perpendicular to the membrane plane, E(perpendicular to), and elect
rical capacitance, C, of supported bilayer lipid membranes formed on t
he freshly cut tip of Teflon-coated silver or platimum wires (s-BLM),
or on thin platinum layers sputtered on a glass surface (sl-BLM), as a
function of d.c. voltage applied to the membrane. The measured value
of E(perpendicular to) was found to change considerably with increasin
g d.c. voltage, the rate of change of voltage, and on successive cycle
s of changing the voltage after membrane formation. The measured value
s of E(perpendicular to) for sl-BLM were about one order of magnitude
higher than for s-BLM. This could be due to either the different degre
e of contact between the wire and its coating or the roughness of the
support. Evidence is presented that edge effects could be involved in
the observed phenomenon. Possibilities for further study of these phen
omena are discussed.