POLYMERIC MONOLAYERS AND LIPOSOMES AS MODELS FOR BIOMEMBRANES AND CELLS.

Abstract

This contribution considers applications of polymer chemistry to improve the usefulness of model systems for biomembranes and cells. Conventional membrane model systems such as vesicles or black lipid membranes based on natural lipid components usually lack long term stability. The first goal on the way to a better biomembrane model is to improve membrane stability. Besides having increased stability the model system should also still be able to perform biological membrane functions such as selective permeability, surface recognition, membrane protein activity, and membrane fusion. How polymer chemistry can provide means to realize stable membrane model systems exhibiting these abilities is the subject of this paper.