Smart Nano-objects for Alteration of Lipid bilayers (SNAL) Initial Training Network is a multidisciplinary EU-funded 7th Framework Programme specially designed to provide scientific and transferable skill training and career development for early stage researchers and experienced researchers in the field of lipid research.

People ProjectsMethodsEventsNews & Media

Work on a similar topic?
Contact us

ESR9-M: Investigation of interaction of membrane-lytic molecules with lipid monolayer

Supported bilayers and vesicles

Objectives

The intention of this project is to obtain experimental information and feedback for system improvement of nano-objects interacting with model membranes (supported bilayers and vesicles).

  • to apply a combination of techniques including neutron reflectivity, SANS (Manchester, Unilever), AFM, TEM (Strasbourg, Manchester) to characterise supported lipid bilayers and model vesicles;
  • to  investigate  how  different  nano-objects  (polymers,  block  copolymers,  short  peptide  aggregates, CNTs,  nanoparticles)  interact  with  lipid  bilayers;
  • to undertake  selected  studies  of  the  interactions  with therapeutic complexes to identify the vectors that provide optimal therapeutic delivery with minimal cytotoxicity.

Tasks and methodology

Interaction of nano-objects with monolayers and supported membrane lipid bilayers. The flat geometry of lipid mono- and bi-layers allows for the use of cutting edge techniques, e.g. neutron reflectivity, dual polarisation interferometry, ellipsometry, etc. in order to identify the intrinsic features of the interactions between nano-objects and the lipid systems under consideration. The work will start with establishing the methodology for producing robust supported mono- and bi-layer via Langmuir trough.

Starting date

September 2014

Methods and techniques

Daniela Ciumac

Leave a Reply