Supported hybrid bilayer membranes as rugged cell membrane mimics

Supported planar lipid bilayers based on alkanethiol-tethering chemistry ar e becoming increasingly important biomimetic materials. Hybrid bilayers con taining thiol-derivatized alkane moieties plus natural Lipids provide a bio mimetic matrix that permits the successful reconstitution of membrane prote in activity. The hybrid membrane is self-assembled and sufficiently rugged to be of practical use in research and in commercial sensing applications. The coupling of the bilayer to a metal support allows a wide range of analy tical techniques to be applied to this model membrane. This article reviews some of the fundamental studies of the formation, structure, and response of hybrid bilayer membranes.