Synthetic Biomimetic Membranes and Their Sensor Applications

Synthetic biomimetic membranes provide biological environments to membrane proteins. By exploiting the central roles of biological membranes, it is possible to devise biosensors, drug delivery systems, and nanocontainers using a biomimetic membrane system integrated with functional proteins. Biomime...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Young-Rok Kim, Sungho Jung, Hyunil Ryu, Yeong-Eun Yoo, Sun Min Kim, Tae-Joon Jeon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2012-07-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/12/7/9530
Description
Summary:Synthetic biomimetic membranes provide biological environments to membrane proteins. By exploiting the central roles of biological membranes, it is possible to devise biosensors, drug delivery systems, and nanocontainers using a biomimetic membrane system integrated with functional proteins. Biomimetic membranes can be created with synthetic lipids or block copolymers. These amphiphilic lipids and polymers self-assemble in an aqueous solution either into planar membranes or into vesicles. Using various techniques developed to date, both planar membranes and vesicles can provide versatile and robust platforms for a number of applications. In particular, biomimetic membranes with modified lipids or functional proteins are promising platforms for biosensors. We review recent technologies used to create synthetic biomimetic membranes and their engineered sensors applications.
ISSN:1424-8220