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Preliminary modeling for adhesion of graphene and lipid layers

Luca Deseri (Carnegie Mellon University), Nicola Pugno (University of Trento), Pietro Pollaci (University of Trento)

SES Medal Symposium in honor of D.J. Steigmann

Tue 9:00 - 10:30

MacMillan 115

To these days the scientific community is making a very significant efforts towards characterizing the adhesion properties of graphene on compliant substrates, which are very challenging since gas bubbles may remain trapped during binding to SiOx, Pl, etc [1]. Although there are indications that further studies in this direction would allow for having more satisfactorily information on binding and graphene morphology, there are still very few results dealing with adhesion between the latter and biological substrates [2]. This is of interest for constructing biomimetic platforms that would allow for (i) detecting ligand/membrane receptor interactions owing a simultaneous characterization of the structural and of the functional aspects of membrane processes and (ii) enhancing the biocompatibility of graphene for its potential use in biomimetic drug delivery [3]. This analysis can be undertaken by starting with simple systems, i.e. interacting planar mono/bi-lipid layers and graphene sheets. Bridging together the approaches proposed in [4] and [5] preliminary information about straining and adhesion of such structures may be delivered. REF.S [1] K Yue, W Gao, R Huang, K M Liechti, Analytical methods for the mechanics of graphene bubbles J Appl Phys 112 (2012) 083512 [2] K Tsuzuki, Y Okamoto, S Iwasa, R Ishikawa, A Sandhu and R Tero, Reduced Graphene Oxide as the Support for Lipid Bilayer Membrane, J Phys 352 (2012) 12-16 [3] X Fan , G Jiao , W Zhao , P Jin and X Li, Magnetic Fe3O4–graphene composites as targeted drug nanocarriers for pH-activated release, Nanosc. 5 (2013) 1143-1152 [4] J Zang, Q Wang, Q Tu, S.Ryu, N Pugno, M. Buehler, X Zhao, Multifunctionality and control of the crumpling and unfolding of large-area graphene, Nature Mat.s (2013) DOI: 10.1038/NMAT3542 [5] L Deseri, G Zurlo, The stretching elasticity of biomembranes determines their line tension and bending rigidity, Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol. (2013) DOI: 10.1007/S10237-013-0478-Z