3.10 Facultad de Física
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Browsing 3.10 Facultad de Física by browse.metadata.categoria "Biología"
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- ItemAtomic force microscopy study of elastic properties of vapor-phase-deposited lipid membranes(2018) Catalán López, Rodrigo Esteban; Volkmann, Ulrich; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de FísicaIn this work we present a study of phase transitions and their relation with the elastic properties of three phospholipid membranes, namely 1,2-dimyristoyl-snglycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). Samples were generated individually by physical-vapor-deposition of the lipid molecules mentioned over acid-cleaned polished silicon chips. The thickness of the samples were measured with Very High Resolution Ellipsometry. Average thickness are 60˚Athickness on average. The molecular consistency of the lipids were characterized using Raman spectroscopy. The Young’s modulus of the lipid membranes was obtained applying the Hertz model to data acquired with Atomic Force Microscopy in Quantitative Imaging feedback mode. Finally, the individual dependence of these lipids respect to temperature changes was used to detect the main gel-to fluid phase transition.The results in the present work show an expected softening of the lipid membranes just after the main phase transition, although the values of the elastic modulus found do not match the ones reported in the literature. However, the general trends correlate well with the ones found in other works. Nevertheless,systematic investigations using similar conditions as ours are still scarce.The acquisition of information related to the elastic properties and stability of the membranes is relevant for future works on protein insertion, and to understand the lipid membranes dependance on several other environmental conditions like changes in temperature, pH-dependence or ionic strength concentration.
- ItemSpontaneous formation in air of DPPC Supported Lipid Bilayers (SLBs) evaporated in a solvent free process on silicon substrates(2021) Cisternas Fruns, Marcelo Andrés; Volkmann, Ulrich; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Instituto de FísicaArtificial membranes are models for biological systems and are important to gain deeper insight into biological membranes and for various applications. We introduce a dry two-step self-assembly method consisting of the high-vacuum evaporation of phospholipid molecules over silicon, followed by a subsequent annealing step in air. We evaporate dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) molecules over bare silicon without the use of polymer cushions or solvents. High-resolution ellipsometry and AFM temperature-dependent measurements are performed in air to detect the characteristic phase transitions of DPPC bilayers. Complementary AFM force-spectroscopy breakthrough events are induced to detect single- and multi-bilayer formations. These combined experimental methods confirm the formation of stable non-hydrated lipid bilayers with phase transitions between gel to ripple phases at 311.5 ± 0.9 K, ripple to liquid crystalline phases at 323.8 ± 2.5 K and liquid crystalline to fluid disordered phases at 330.4 ± 0.9 K, which was consistent with such structures reported in wet environments. We find that the AFM tip induces a restructuring or intercalation of the bilayer that is strongly related to the applied tip-force. These dry supported lipid bilayers show long-term stability. These findings are relevant for the development of functional biointerfaces, specifically for fabrication of biosensors and membrane protein platforms. The observed stability is relevant in the context of lifetimes of such systems protected by bilayers in dry environments, such as e.g. SARS-CoV-2 virus.