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Chronopotentiometric Technique as a Method for Electrical Characterization of Bilayer Lipid Membranes

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Abstract

The basic electrical parameters of bilayer lipid membranes are capacitance and resistance. This article describes the application of chronopotentiometry to the research of lipid bilayers. Membranes were made from egg yolk phosphatidylcholine. The chronopotentiometric characteristic of the membranes depends on the current value. For low current values, no electroporation takes place and the voltage rises exponentially to a constant value. Based on these kinds of chronopotentiometric curves, a method of the membrane capacitance and the membrane resistance calculations are presented.

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Acknowledgements

Kazimierz Wojtulewski, MEng, is thanked for his valuable technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Al. J. Pilsudskiego 11/4, 15-443, Bialystok, Poland

    Monika Naumowicz & Zbigniew Artur Figaszewski

  2. Laboratory of Electrochemical Power Sources, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Pasteur St. 1, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland

    Zbigniew Artur Figaszewski

Authors
  1. Monika Naumowicz
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  2. Zbigniew Artur Figaszewski
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Correspondence to Monika Naumowicz.

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Naumowicz, M., Figaszewski, Z.A. Chronopotentiometric Technique as a Method for Electrical Characterization of Bilayer Lipid Membranes. J Membrane Biol 240, 47–53 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-011-9341-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-011-9341-2

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