Hostname: page-component-7b7567c8c-7pwfn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-14T04:50:14.176Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Polymer-Supported Membranes: Physical Models of Cell Surfaces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Get access

Abstract

The functional modification of solid surfaces with plasma membrane models has been drawing increasing attention as a straightforward strategy to bridge soft biological materials and hard inorganic materials. Planar model membranes can be deposited either directly on solid substrates (solid-supported membranes), or on ultrathin polymer supports (polymer-supported membranes) that mimic the generic role of the extracellular matrix and the cell surface. The first part of this review provides an overview of advances in the fabrication of polymer-supported membranes. The middle section describes how such thin polymer interlayers can physically modulate the membrane–substrate contact. The last section introduces several methods to localize membranes and membrane proteins. Finally, some ideas are presented on combining supported membrane concepts with semiconductor technology toward applications in materials science.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable