POROUS INORGANIC SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES FOR USE IN ION CHANNELING

by GLADDING, SARAH M

The objective of this research was to use a porous inorganic material to support a biological membrane, which could be used in ion channeling. The support consisted of a gamma-alumina core covered with a thin silica layer. The hydrophilic surface of the silica was then modified with C18 (octadecyltrichlorosilane) in order to make the surface hydrophobic. A lipid layer was then deposited, in which the hydrophobic tails of the lipid layer interacted with the hydrophobic carbon chains of the C18 to create a bilayer, which served as a host for the protein, Gramicidin D. Experimental results show that the inorganic support did provide stability for the biomembrane, as well as provided a reservoir to store material for ion exchange. Ion exchange did occur, especially after the addition of the protein ion channels, and this exchange was measured using a pH change test.