(4dn) Neutron Reflectivity in Biological Applications

Neutron Reflectometry (NR) has long been used as a tool to study soft-condensed materials, including bio-related structures. For example, it has been applied to study model biomembranes to facilitate physical understanding of cellular interfaces and their interactions with proteins (Krueger, S., Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci., 2001). Typically, this technique is applied to investigate samples that are homogeneous over large areas.  Such systems include phospholipid monolayers at the air-liquid interface, pure and hybrid phospholipid bilayers on silicon and quartz substrates, and phospholipid bilayers on novel support systems designed to closely mimic biological membranes. The time-of-flight Surface Profile Analysis Reflectometer (SPEAR), at the Lujan Center utilizes a neutron wavelength range of 4.5 Å to 16 Å to study a broad range of materials including polymers, nano-engineered films, and bio-related systems (Dubey et al., Eur. Phys. J., 2011). Here, we report on some of our recent contributions towards the investigation of biological systems using SPEAR and extending NR to off-specular scattering (OSS) and complex systems, such as living fibroblast cells.

Krueger, S., 2001. Neutron reflection from interfaces with biological and biomimetic materials. Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci., 6(2), 111-117.

Dubey, M., Jablin, M., Wang, P., Mocko, M., Majewski, J., 2011. SPEAR — ToF neutron reflectometer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Eur. Phys. J. 126(11), 1-11.