Nanoscale mechanical probing of supported lipid bilayers with atomic force microscopy

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2010 Oct;82(4 Pt 1):041920. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.82.041920. Epub 2010 Oct 25.

Abstract

We present theory and experiments for the force-distance curve F(z(0)) of an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip (radius R) indenting a supported fluid bilayer (thickness 2d). For realistic conditions the force is dominated by the area compressibility modulus κ(A) of the bilayer and, to an excellent approximation, given by F=πκ(A)Rz(0)(2)/(2d-z(0))(2). The experimental AFM force curves from coexisting liquid ordered and liquid disordered domains in three-component lipid bilayers are well described by our model, which provides κ(A) in agreement with literature values. The liquid ordered phase has a yieldlike response that we model as due to the breaking of hydrogen bonds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Lipid Bilayers* / chemistry
  • Lipid Bilayers* / metabolism
  • Mechanical Phenomena*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers