Polyelectrolyte reservoir films

Lipid bilayer membranes tethered to plasma-polymerized films as hydrophilic supports were another concept introduced recently [28], The plasma polymerization of maleic anhydride (MAH-PP), e.g., has led to the synthesis of thin polymeric coatings that appear to be suitable to act as a reservoir for an aqueous phase and a cushion for lipid bilayers [29], A crucial requirement for the use of such polymers as water containing supports for lipid bilayer membranes is their adhesion to the substrate. In a previous study [30] covalent binding of MAH-PP films to gold supports was achieved by a self assembled alkylthiol adhesion layer. The previous work has shown that maleic anhydride, when polymerized at a low duty cycle, can behave as a polyelectrolyte. The thin polymer layers were found to have a very low electrical resistance (ca. lOOQcm2) after immersion and subsequent hydrolysis/swelling in aqueous buffer. 

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