TY - DATA T1 - Dynamics of Membrane Adhesion:  The Role of Polyethylene Glycol Spacers, Ligand−Receptor Bond Strength, and Rupture Pathway† PY - 2008/02/19 AU - Joyce Y. Wong AU - Tonya L. Kuhl UR - https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Dynamics_of_Membrane_Adhesion_The_Role_of_Polyethylene_Glycol_Spacers_Ligand_Receptor_Bond_Strength_and_Rupture_Pathway_sup_sup_/2956552 DO - 10.1021/la702357a.s002 L4 - https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/4655485 KW - binding distance KW - measurement KW - ligand KW - lipid membrane functionalized KW - polymer tether chains KW - surface force apparatus technique KW - membrane adhesion dynamics KW - polymer tether length KW - Polyethylene Glycol Spacers KW - bond N2 - Biological adhesion typically occurs through discrete cross bridges between complementary molecules on adjacent membranes. Here we report quantitative measurements of the binding distance between a lipid membrane functionalized with ligands on flexible polymer tether chains and a second membrane bearing complementary receptors using the surface force apparatus technique. The binding distance is shown to increase as a function of polymer tether length. Upon separation, adhesive failure occurs not at the strong ligand−receptor bond but primarily through the mechanical pullout of cross-bridging polymer tethers from the membrane. We summarize these measurements of complementary membrane adhesion dynamics using an energy-state diagram that encompasses the energetics of the polymer tether, ligand−receptor bond strength, and number of cross bridges formed. ER -