We were the first to use a special ATR-FTIR method in the studies of properties of lipid phases in mixtures of sphingomyelin and cholesterol, which enabled us to gain new results. We have shown that the part of the infrared spectrum corresponding to the absorption due to the stretching of the amide group carries lots of information about phase properties and intermolecular interactions. Scientific public has shown a great interest in these results, while the investigated lipid mixture is frequently used as a model system for special heterogeneous structures in biological membranes.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 20786983Supported lipid membranes can be prepared by deposition of vesicles on a solid support. With included proteins or enzymes they can serve as biological sensing elements in biosensors. With the immobilization of membrane proteins in supported membranes one avoids isolation, purification and reconstitution of proteins, which often leads to denaturation or deactivation of proteins. As an example the preparation of supported membranes with included enzyme AChE from erythrocytes has been shown. The formation of supported membranes has been followed by the method of surface plasmon resonance.
F.23 Development of new system-wide, normative and programme solutions, and methods
COBISS.SI-ID: 22235687The software for automated characterization of EPR spectra of model and biological membranes was improved. It is based on EPR spectra decomposition to different spectral components. Parameters of the model for EPR spectra simulation are searched by a multiple run of optimization based on genetic algorithm. For automated analysis of solutions a special condensation algorithm has been improved.
F.24 Improvements to existing system-wide, normative and programme solutions, and methods
COBISS.SI-ID: 21356071Within the framework of the project knowledge about the use of atomic force microscopy and scanning near-field infrared microscopy has been acquired. Both methods are extremely useful for the study of the properties of supported membranes, while they allow high resolution imaging and chemical characterization of single lipid membranes. Their application have also provided the use of a wider range of methods, thus making possible a more efficient approach to the project problems. The methodology and its use has been presented at an international conference.
F.01 Acquisition of new practical knowledge, information and skills
COBISS.SI-ID: 21759271As a part of invited talk at the University of Nova Gorica, Graduate School of Environmental Sciences, the project activities have been presented. The main aim of the talk was to transfer the know-how about the employed methodology and to present the obtained results. In addition, the visit also offered an opportunity to search for the possibilities of collaboration and of potential use of results obtained in the project, while at the mentioned institution they are already engaged in the development of biosensors based on acetylcholinesterase for detection of pesticides.
F.18 Transfer of new know-how to direct users (seminars, fora, conferences)
COBISS.SI-ID: 20786215