Real-time monitoring of lipid transfer between vesicles and hybrid bilayers on Au nanoshells using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

To investigate the dynamics of exchange/transfer of lipids between membranes, we have studied the interaction of donor-deuterated DMPC vesicles with DMPC hybrid bilayers on Au nanoshells using SERS. Experimental data confirm partial lipid exchange/transfer in the outer leaflet of the hybrid bilayer. The kinetics of the exchange/transfer process follows a first order process with a rate constant of 1.3 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. Changes in lipid phase behavior caused by the exchange/transfer process were characterized using generalized polarization measurements. In situ lipid transfer can potentially be utilized for preparation of asymmetric supported lipid bilayers and for incorporation of reporter lipids in biological membranes.