SELF-ASSEMBLED PHOSPHOLIPID ALKANETHIOL BIOMIMETIC BILAYERS ON GOLD

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