Atomic force microscopy of lipid domains in supported model membranes

Methods in Molecular Biology
Alan R Burns

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been a significant tool in the characterization of lipid domains in model membranes. With AFM, one can image the structure of membranes in a natural fluid environment with a lateral resolution that approaches 1 nm and vertical resolution of 0.1 nm. The AFM technique is discussed, with a special emphasis on imaging soft, compliant memranes that are supported on solid substrates such as glass or mica. In typical model membranes, lipid domains are formed by phase separation in multicomponent lipid mixtures and are observed by nm-level height differences owing to lipid packing. A general procedure for creating supported lipid bilayers through vesicle fusion is discussed.

Citations

Sep 22, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Dingding AnDennis L Kasper
Dec 6, 2012·Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology·Blake W EricksonGeorg E Fantner

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