Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring of supported lipid bilayers on various substrates

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) mimic biological membranes and are a versatile platform for a wide range of biophysical research fields including lipid–protein interactions, protein–protein interactions and membrane-based biosensors. The quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) has had a pivotal role in understanding SLB formation on various substrates. As shown by its real-time kinetic monitoring of SLB formation, QCM-D can probe the dynamics of biomacromolecular interactions. We present a protocol for constructing zwitterionic SLBs supported on silicon oxide and titanium oxide, and discuss technical issues that need to be considered when working with charged lipid compositions. Furthermore, we explain a recently developed strategy that uses an amphipathic, α-helical (AH) peptide to form SLBs on gold and titanium oxide substrates. The protocols can be completed in less than 3 h.