Artificial membranes for biology research Studying membrane function under controlled conditions inside living cells is difficult. According to the BIOMIMEM study, the answer is to construct biomimetic artificial membranes on a dish. Health © Thinkstock Biological membranes play an important role in the shape, rigidity and movement of all cells. They consist of lipid bilayers with embedded proteins and carbohydrates, facilitating cell-to-cell contact and communication. Membranes are also the site where many enzymatic processes take place, including cellular respiration. To study biological membranes and their function, researchers have pioneered the construction of biomimetic membrane systems such as lipid monolayers and liposomes. The EU-funded 'Biomimetic membrane systems' (BIOMIMEM) project brought together experts in the field from China, France and Germany to improve our understanding of biological membranes. An exchange programme was organised among the four participating partners and involved sharing of ideas and expertise. Researcher exchange visits fostered the collaborative nature of the consortium and aimed at forming an international network working on the biomimetic model membrane systems. In addition, the BIOMIMEM project helped educate young researchers and establish future collaborations between China and Europe. The experiments conducted during the study aimed not only to improve our understanding of the fundamental nature of biological membranes but also to develop new biosensors and drug carriers. In this context, scientists studied the phase behaviour of the different model lipid membranes and how they interact with peptides and proteins. Cumulatively, work done by the BIOMIMEM consortium sheds light onto the mechanisms underlying membrane-related biochemical processes in living organisms. Also, it is envisaged to help design membrane-based devices that could be exploited for drug screening and bio-detection. Keywords Artificial membranes, biomimetic membrane systems, drug screening, bio-detection
