Surface-attached model lipid membranes derived from human red blood cells

Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most abundant human cell type and interface interactions with the RBC membrane are at the heart of many processes relevant for human health, such as immune system modulation, interactions with foreign pathogens and with pharmacological drugs. To better study such membrane interface interactions, it would be useful to employ surface - attached model lipid membranes derived from RBCs to enable surface-sensitive biophysical and biochemical measurements. Here, we present approaches to prepare two such types of RBC-derived model lipid membranes – supported lipid bilayers (RBC-SLBs) and tethered RBC liposomes. We present data characterizing and validating these model membranes, including assessing lipid mobility, the distribution and mobility of the glycophorin A membrane protein, the functionality of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, and the utility of the RBC-SLBs as binding targets for viral pathogens. We anticipate that our results and methodologies will be of interest to researchers studying molecular interactions with RBC membranes, as well as those interested in the engineering of model membrane platforms derived from other physiological membranes.