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Polymer-supported membranes as models of the cell surface

Nature volume 437, pages 656–663 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Lipid-bilayer membranes supported on solid substrates are widely used as cell-surface models that connect biological and artificial materials. They can be placed either directly on solids or on ultrathin polymer supports that mimic the generic role of the extracellular matrix. The tools of modern genetic engineering and bioorganic chemistry make it possible to couple many types of biomolecule to supported membranes. This results in sophisticated interfaces that can be used to control, organize and study the properties and function of membranes and membrane-associated proteins. Particularly exciting opportunities arise when these systems are coupled with advanced semiconductor technology.

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Figure 1: Supported membranes.
Figure 2: Electrophoretic accumulation.
Figure 3: Membrane patterning.
Figure 4: Membranes on beads.
Figure 5: Electrochemical detection schemes.
Figure 6: Membrane–semiconductor systems.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all our collaborators who contributed to this subject, including S. Kaufmann, O. Purrucker, F. Rehfeldt, A. Wong, M. Tutus, J. Hermann, S. Gönnenwein, M. Schneider, K. Adlkofer, H. Hillebrandt, G. Wiegand and S. Gritsch. We thank the groups of G. Wegner, R. Jordan, L. Moroder, M. Fischer, M. Tornow, M. Eickhoff, M. Stutzmann, G. Abstreiter and S. G. Boxer for fruitful collaborations and inspiring discussion. This work was supported through Deutsche Forschungs Gemeinschaft (DFG), National Science Foundation (NSF-MRSEC) and Fonds der Chemischen Industrie.

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  1. Motomu Tanaka

    Present address: Institute for Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

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  1. Department of Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, D-85748, Germany

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Tanaka, M., Sackmann, E. Polymer-supported membranes as models of the cell surface. Nature 437, 656–663 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04164

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