Functional molecular films at charged interfaces

我们的研究目标是在电极表面建立功能模型膜，用于研究电压门控现象的机制，如通过离子通道的传输，以及研究各种药物对离子通道功能的影响。为了实现这些目标，我们将采用电化学方法、扫描探针显微镜（如扫描隧道显微镜和原子力显微镜）、红外、紫外和可见辐射的原位反射光谱和中子反射技术。金属电极表面覆盖一层表面活性剂或磷脂膜，可以带电，并且可以在这些支撑膜上施加108V/m量级的电场。这些场与作用在生物膜上的场具有相当的强度。该场可方便地用于操纵膜内的有机分子。然后利用红外反射吸收光谱法测定膜中生物分子的取向和构象，以及它们对应用领域的响应变化。中子反射率和表面等离子体共振（SPR）测量将提供有关双层厚度和双层中含水量的信息。我们的研究一直受到新方法发展的推动。为了保持这一传统，我们计划开发一种技术，允许结合膜片钳和红外光谱研究电压门控离子通道打开的机制和动力学。我们的研究为控制传感器和生物传感器的稳定性以及在仿生研究中使用支持双分子层提供了必要的基础知识。

The objective of our research is to build functional model membranes at an electrode surface that could be used to study the mechanism of voltage gated phenomena such as transport through ion channels and to study the effect of various drugs on the function of the ion channels.  To achieve these goals we will employ electrochemical methods, scanning probe microscopies such as scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy, in situ refelection  spectroscopies in the infrared, ultraviolet and visible range of radiation and neutron reflectivity technique. The metal electrode surface, covered by a film of surfactants or phospholipids, can be charged and electric fields on the order of 108V/m can be applied to these supported films. These fields have comparable magnitude to the fields acting on biological membranes. The field may be conveniently used to manipulate organic molecules within the membrane.  IR reflection absorption spectroscopy can then be used to determine the orientation and conformation of the bio-molecule in the membrane and their changes in response to the applied field.  Neutron reflectivity and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements will provide information about the thickness of the bilayer and the water content in the bilayer.  Our research has always been driven by the development of new methods.  To keep up with this tradition we are planning to develop a technique allowing combined patch clamp and IR spectroscopic studies of the mechanism and kinetics of voltage gated ion channel opening.  Our studies provide basic knowledge that is essential to control the stability of sensors and biosensors and for the use of supported bilayers in biomimetic research.