Benetzungsverhalten von Phospholipidmembranen auf rauhen und strukturierten Festkörperoberflächen

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Joachim Rädler
• Subject Area: Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 1998 to 2003
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5107494

Substrate supported membranes have many applications ranging from receptive surfaces, biocompatible coatings to biofunctionalization of miniaturized biochips. The goal of the proposed research is to reach a comprehensive molecular understanding of the wetting kinetics of phospholipid membranes on solid surfaces. In the previous project period we developed a model which describes the interface dynamics on a variety of simple surfaces like glass or structured silicon surfaces. The new project should clarify the exact dissipation mechanisms, in particular the hydrodynamic membrane-substrate distance as well as the relative motion of the two monolayers within the membrane. The wetting properties on submicroscopically structured surfaces will be investigated from the view point of anisotropic spreading along preferred directions of the substrate. Furthermore studies on flat, but chemically heterogeneous surfaces e.g. plastics are planned. A new subject are solvent-induced wetting transitions. Lipids dissolved in organic solvents form bilayers at a solid surface, if the solvent properties are continuously changed by addition of water. We will investigate the surface and solvent interactions involved in this transition.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1052: Benetzung und Strukturbildung an Grenzflächen