Membrane-Grafted Hyaluronan Films:  A Well-Defined Model System of Glycoconjugate Cell Coats

We report on the creation of films of end-grafted hyaluronan, based on solid-supported lipid membranes. We characterize the layer thickness, the grafting density, the mechanical properties and the permeability of these highly hydrated and up to several hundred nanometer-thick monomolecular layers by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, by colloidal probe triple-wavelength reflection interference contrast microscopy, and by reflectometry. The two-dimensional assemblies thus created are expected to serve as versatile platforms to study, in a well-controlled and quantitative manner, the effect of hyaluronan-binding proteins on the structure, properties, and biological function of this type of films.