This project explored how nanostructured surfaces influence the structure and dynamics of lipid biomembranes, using them as model systems to understand cellular membrane curvature. Supported phospholipid bilayers were formed on hexagonal arrays of silicon nanowires, which imposed controlled curvature, and their structural organization was studied using grazing incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) and neutron reflectometry.
GISANS provided detailed information about the curvature, coverage, and arrangement of lipid bilayers on the nanowire surface, while reflectometry probed the flat regions between nanowires, offering complementary insights. Additional imaging techniques, including confocal microscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), confirmed the formation of continuous and mobile bilayers. A new analytical approach based on form factor intensity ratios was developed to simplify GISANS data interpretation.
The work advanced the use of neutron scattering for studying curved biomembranes, contributing to a better understanding of membrane–nanostructure interactions relevant to cellular processes and emerging nanobiotechnology applications.