Charge transfer processes in fullerene-modified supported bilayer lipid membranes

It has been demonstrated that by doping a bilayer lipid membrane (s-BLM) with fullerenes such as C60, it is possible to construct sensor probes, and to investigate redox reactions and electron transfer across the lipid bilayer. The C60-containing supported bilayer lipid membrane, considered basically as a molecular device, is capable of conducting charge separation that undergoes redox reactions across the substrate/hydrophobic lipid bilayer/aqueous solution junctions. Using cyclic voltammetry our results show that C60 embedded in the BLM can act as an excellent electron carrier or mediator and should be useful for electrochemical sensor and molecular electronics device development. (author)