Lipid Bilayers Are Long-Lived on Solvent Cleaned Plasma-Oxidized poly(dimethyl)siloxane (ox-PDMS)

Abstract

Although it is well known that phospholipids self-assemble on hydrophilic plasma-oxidized PMDS surfaces (ox-PDMS) to form cell membrane mimetic bilayers, the temporal stability of phospholipid membranes on these surfaces is unknown. Here we report that phospholipid bilayers remain stable on solvent-cleaned ox-PDMS for at least 132 hours after preparation. Absent solvent cleaning, the bilayers were stable for only 36 hours. We characterized the phospholipid bilayers, i) through quantitative comparative analysis of the fluorescence intensity of phospholipid bilayers on ox-PDMS and phospholipid monolayers on native PDMS and, ii) through measurements of the diffusive mobility of the lipids through fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). The fluorescence intensity of the phospholipid layer remained consistent with that of a bilayer for 132 hours. The evolution of the diffusive mobility of the phospholipids in the bilayer on ox-PDMS over time was similar to lipids in control bilayers prepared on glass surfaces. Solvent cleaning was essential for the long-term stability of the bilayers on ox-PDMS. Without cleaning in acetone and isopropanol, phospholipid bilayers prepared on ox-PDMS surfaces peeled off in large patches within 36 hours. Importantly, we find that phospholipid bilayers supported on solvent-cleaned ox-PDMS were indistinguishable from phospholipid bilayers supported on glass for at least 36 hours after preparation. Our results provide a link between the two common surfaces used to prepare in vitro biomimetic phospholipid membranes—i) glass surfaces used predominantly in fundamental biophysical experiments, for which there is abundant physicochemical information, with ii) ox-PDMS, the dominant material used in practical, applications-oriented systems to build micro-devices, topographically-patterned surfaces, and biosensors where there is a dearth of information.

Substrate-led cholesterol extraction from supported lipid membranes

“…1a-c), in line with previous observations. 19,27,34 This result is achieved with PDMS substrates plasma-oxidized for 30 seconds (Fig. S1 †).…”

Model membrane systems to reconstitute immune cell signaling

“…Yet, all planar SLBs by definition lack three-dimensionality, a significant limiting factor. Although this can be circumvented by the use of substrates encoding 3D features [64], the underlying substrate might restrict TM protein lateral mobility [65]. Also, there lacks any systematic comparison of how different SLB assembly methods impact technical readout, as different SLB preparations might impose hindrances to the lateral mobility of molecules and hence the association of multimolecular assemblies.…”

A Study of the Effects of Plasma Surface Treatment on Lipid Bilayers Self-Spreading on a Polydimethylsiloxane Substrate under Different Treatment Times

“…12−14 Moreover, the controllable mechanical properties of PDMS can be tailored for studying various membrane features with PDMS-supported lipid bilayers. 15−17 In addition, PDMS-supported lipid bilayers are stable up to 132 h after preparation 18 and hence are appropriate support for the above membrane applications.…”