A successful strategy for the self-assembly and stabilization of a substrat
e-supported, phospholipid bilayer is described. The bilayer is self-organiz
ed by fusion of fluid vesicles, composed of bis-sorbylphosphatidylcholine,
on an oxide surface. The supported bilayer is then polymerized in situ to p
roduce a cross-linked structure that is stable to surfactant solutions, org
anic solvents, and to transfer across the air/water interface, yet retains
the resistance to nonspecific protein adsorption characteristic of a fluid
phosphatidylcholine bilayer.