Biomimetic systems consisting of lipid membranes bound to an electrically conducting substrate

Abstract

The invention concerns lipids functionalized with a terminal C═C double bond which can be transformed into an anchor group for binding to a substrate surface. The invention further concerns lipids comprising such an anchor group for binding to a substrate surface. The invention also concerns self-assembled monolayers of lipids on substrates, in particular on silicon oxide substrates. The lipids and the lipid monolayers or bilayers containing these lipids can be used to produce biomimetic supported membrane systems. These membrane systems can be directly anchored on silicon microelectronic devices. After the optional incorporation of functional molecules such as membrane-associated proteins such systems can used for applications such as model systems for examining biological membranes, screening methods, sensors and bioelectronic devices such as biocomputers.