In Situ Analysis of Model Cell Membranes Using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Author | : Elyse Nicole Towns |
Publisher | : |
Total Pages | : |
Release | : 2016 |
ISBN-10 | : 1369311451 |
ISBN-13 | : 9781369311457 |
Rating | : 4/5 (51 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: Phospholipid vesicles are instrumental in biophysical research to aid in understanding fundamental cellular functions. My research, described here, was focused on controlling phospholipid membrane structure on a solid support by manipulating variables such as lipid type and concentration, vesicle size, solvent, and surface chemistry. These adsorbed phospholipids substrates create biocompatible surfaces designed as biosensors for membrane targets and can function as tailored models for biomembranes. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) provides detailed molecular structure information of phospholipids adsorbed at the solid-liquid interface. My work resulted in the identification and optimization of model systems of lipid bilayers, physisorbed lipid vesicles, and tethered bilayers and vesicles ideal to study biomolecules, such as transmembrane proteins, using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.