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Some Physical Properties of Bimolecular Lipid Membranes produced from New Lipid Solutions

Abstract

ALL bimolecular lipid membranes (BLM) (which are also known as bilayer or black lipid membranes) so far investigated have been formed from solutions containing phospholipids, with perhaps one exception1,2. In an attempt to understand more fully the structure of BLM, and in particular the factors responsible for BLM formation and stability, we tried to generate BLM from a variety of substances and to measure their physical properties. Previous measurements of properties have been restricted chiefly to electrical characteristics, thickness and water permeability3, but a technique has recently been developed which permits direct quantitative measurements of iriterfacial tension.

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TIEN, H., DIANA, A. Some Physical Properties of Bimolecular Lipid Membranes produced from New Lipid Solutions. Nature 215, 1199–1200 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2151199a0

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