Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Investigation of Oriented Lipid Membranes

31 P-and 2 H-nuclear magnetic resonance are widely used to study order and dynamics, but also orientation of lipid bilayers at solid interfaces. Herein, the various techniques of orienting lipid bilayers at interfaces, the requirements for acquisition of nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and the basic principles for spectra interpretation are described. Preparation of two types of oriented bilayers is presented: multilamellar bilayers oriented at flat solid interfaces and unilamellar tubular bilayers inside porous substrates. The latter bilayers are accessible from a bulk water phase, which permits adjustment of pH, as well as delivery of proteins and ligands to the bilayer surface.