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
(2009)
Formation and manipulation of two-dimensional arrays of micron-scale particles in microfluidic systems by surface acoustic waves
in Applied Physics Letters
Wood C
(2008)
Alignment of particles in microfluidic systems using standing surface acoustic waves
in Applied Physics Letters
Wnek M
(2013)
Fabrication and characterization of gold nano-wires templated on virus-like arrays of tobacco mosaic virus coat proteins.
in Nanotechnology
Weiss SA
(2010)
A study of cytochrome bo3 in a tethered bilayer lipid membrane.
in Biochimica et biophysica acta
Wang L
(2015)
Photosynthetic Proteins in Supported Lipid Bilayers: Towards a Biokleptic Approach for Energy Capture.
in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Taylor RW
(2014)
Watching individual molecules flex within lipid membranes using SERS.
in Scientific reports
Stephens CJ
(2011)
Early stages of crystallization of calcium carbonate revealed in picoliter droplets.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Roth J
(2015)
Optimization of Brownian ratchets for the manipulation of charged components within supported lipid bilayers
in Applied Physics Letters
Pukenas L
(2015)
Bead-like structures and self-assembled monolayers from 2,6-dipyrazolylpyridines and their iron( ii ) complexes
in Journal of Materials Chemistry C
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 |