BIOMEMBRANES AND NEW HEMOCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS

Biomembranes are complex structures of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Many biophysical studies have been made of the amphiphilic lipid molecules and some of the many studies which have led to our present understanding of the lipid bilayer matrix will be presented. This will include the application of monolayer as well as other biophysical techniques such as NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The structures of biomembrane proteins are more difficult to study because of the requirement that they should be retained in a hydrophobic environment and are difficult to crystallize. We will describe some of our recent studies, using spectroscopic techniques, of various membrane proteins as well as synthesized polypeptide domains. Based upon biomembrane mimicry, new biomaterials, phospholipid polymers, which are hemocompatible and protein resistant have been developed. The testing and application of these new biomaterials will be shown.