Protein Manipulation in Lipid Bilayers using Surface Acoustic Waves
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
The phospholipid bilayer that separates the internal cellular environment from the outside world presents an impervious barrier for the transport of large molecules and charged ions. Proteins located within this bilayer provide a mechanism for the passage of nutrients and waste products between the cytoplasm and the external environment. Further, they also play pivotal role in transmitting the cellular response to chemical changes such as the interaction with hormones, toxins, etc. It is not surprising that such proteins are of significant pharmaceutical interest. Significant progress in understanding the function of many membrane proteins has been hampered since they often change their structure, and lose their functionality, once removed from their membranous environment. Our group has a strong interest in developing new platforms and tools for studying such bilayer membranes and proteins. Here we propose to develop a new technique for manipulating such proteins whilst keeping them in their lipid bilayer environment. In particular, we wish to use the electric fields associated with evanescent waves (created using a modified surface acoustic wave device) to move charged proteins within the lipid bilayer. This represents the first step towards the facile manipulation of membrane proteins and which will eventually allow us to trap, move and separate proteins within the bilayer. The will be a significant breakthrough for the study of membrane proteins.
Publications
Wood C
(2008)
Alignment of particles in microfluidic systems using standing surface acoustic waves
in Applied Physics Letters
Wood C
(2009)
Formation and manipulation of two-dimensional arrays of micron-scale particles in microfluidic systems by surface acoustic waves
in Applied Physics Letters
Kendall JK
(2010)
Effect of the structure of cholesterol-based tethered bilayer lipid membranes on ionophore activity.
in Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry
Han X
(2010)
A self-assembly route for double bilayer lipid membrane formation.
in Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry
Prompinit P
(2010)
Controlling liquid crystal alignment using photocleavable cyanobiphenyl self-assembled monolayers.
in ACS applied materials & interfaces
Weiss SA
(2010)
A study of cytochrome bo3 in a tethered bilayer lipid membrane.
in Biochimica et biophysica acta
Achalkumar A
(2010)
Cholesterol-based anchors and tethers for phospholipid bilayers and for model biological membranes
in Soft Matter
Cheneler D
(2011)
Characteristics and durability of fluoropolymer thin films
in Polymer Degradation and Stability
Krzeminski L
(2011)
Orientational control over nitrite reductase on modified gold electrode and its effects on the interfacial electron transfer.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Krzeminski L
(2011)
Spectroelectrochemical investigation of intramolecular and interfacial electron-transfer rates reveals differences between nitrite reductase at rest and during turnover.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Description | Through this research we integrated on chip surface acoustic waves into microfluidic systems for the manipulation of particles and bubbles in the size regime 1 to 20 um. We were able to demonstrate that we could use SAW to forma standing wave to : i) create particles arrays - test-tubes without walls ii) move particles in arrays in sequential manner iii) use SAW device as a mixer |
Exploitation Route | For lab on chip device / manipulation of micro bubbles for separation / cleaning after functionalisation |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Chemicals Education Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | The findings of this work have so far been primarily of academic impact. It has contributed to the growing amount of research on the integration of SAW devices into microfluidics. Translation of the impact of this into the CSEP options below is likely to be over many years. |
First Year Of Impact | 2005 |
Sector | Healthcare |
Impact Types | Cultural |