Wetting of SiO2 surfaces by phospholipid dispersions

Wetting of SiO2/Si/SiO2 slides by phospholipid dispersions has been determi ned over a range of phospholipid concentrations and times of interaction be tween vesicles and the solid surface. Both advancing and receding dynamic c ontact angles (theta) increased and the contact angle hysteresis decreased as a function of the phospholipid concentration (or interaction time), atta ining a maximum (a minimum). Maximization of both the advancing and recedin g contact angles and minimization of the contact angle hysteresis are assoc iated with an increase in the chemical homogeneity of the surface and one-b ilayer deposition. Determination of contact angles is a powerful, quick, an d simple technique to establish experimental conditions for bilayer deposit ion on solid surfaces in general. This result may be of importance for furt her advancements in rapidly developing research areas such as the design of biosensors, immunodiagnosis, and the development of biocompatible material s.