Membrane-Based Biosensing
A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Biosensors".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2018) | Viewed by 21399
Special Issue Editors
Interests: biosensors; analytical and environmental chemistry; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biosensors; analytical and environmental chemistry; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Molecular self-assembly mimics natural systems and is a key link between physics, chemistry and biology. Molecular self-assembly can be used to create novel structures, materials, and devices for use in biosensors. Of all the self-assembled structures, thin lipid films and liposomes are the ones attracting the most attention in relation to biosensors. Like a cell membrane, lipid films and liposomes are composed of phospholipids or other amphiphiles. Their hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics allow them to spontaneously form organized structures.
The supported bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) provides a natural environment for embedding proteins, receptors, membrane/tissue fragments, and entire cells under nondenaturing conditions and in a well-defined orientation. This makes BLMs especially attractive for use in biosensors.
A successful biomimetically engineered device based on BLMs was the ion channel switch biosensor has been reported in the literature. The basis of this 1.5 nm nanomachine was a self-assembled artificial membrane packed with gramicidin. Ion channels were formed in the membrane by two gramicidin molecules: One in the lower layer of the membrane attached to a gold electrode and one in the upper layer tethered to biological receptors, such as antibodies or nucleotides. The detection mechanism operated by binding the target molecule to the receptor and thereby altering the population of conduction ion channel pairs within the tethered membrane. This resulted in a change in the membrane conduction. The device was capable of detecting picomolar concentrations of proteins.
Unlike planer BLMs, liposomes are microscopic, fluid-filled, pouches with endless walls that are made of layers of phospholipids identical to the phospholipids that make up cell membranes. Liposomes are typically used as the supporting substrate for immobilizing the biorecognition molecules. Liposomes are also used to amplify the optical, sound wave, and electrochemical signals.
Lipid film coated electrodes represent unique tool for preparation of enzyme biosensors and for study the mechanisms of enzymatic reactions at the surfaces. The enzyme can be incorporated into the lipid films by means of dissolution of enzyme molecules in lipid solution from which the film is prepared or by immobilization of the enzyme at the lipid film surface. Modification of supported lipid membranes and liposomes with the receptors allows substantial amplification of the signal in detection of target species using various modes of detection, such as electrochemical, optical and acoustic waves.
- Free standing BLMs and supported BLMs
- Metal supported sBLMs
- sBLMs formed on a surface of glassy carbon, mica, metal oxide surfaces and on a ultrafiltration membranes
- Bilayers stabilized by polymerization and formed on semiconductor and carbon nanotube surfaces
- Polymer-supported bilayer lipid membranes
- Lipid films supported on carbon nanotubes
- sBLMs formed on nanomaterials
- Biosensors based on supported lipid films and their analytical applications
- Ion-selective sBLM and water permeability channels.
- Enzyme biosensors
- DNA biosensors
- Affinity biosensors based on artificial and natural receptors
Prof. Dr. Dimitrios P. Nikolelis
Dr. Georgia-Paraskevi Nikoleli
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- lipid membranes
- biosensors
- nanotechnology
- liposomes
- biochemical processes
- biomembranes
- ion channels
- enzymes
- DNA, receptors
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