Positively charged supported lipid bilayer formation on gold surfaces for neuronal cell culture

Supported lipid bilayers are widely used as cell membrane models and sensor platforms, but the usage on gold surface needs additional surface modification or optimized experimental conditions. In this work, the authors show lipid bilayer formation on plasma activated gold surfaces in physiological conditions without any other modification if at least 30% positively charged lipids are present. Details of bilayer formation from small unilamellar vesicles were monitored using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation in both basic and acidic environment. The authors also confirmed that this positively charged bilayer system can sustain primary cortical neuron growth and lipid transfer. This method will provide simple means to construct biomimetic interface on gold electrodes. (C) 2016 American Vacuum Society.