Influence of brain gangliosides on the formation and properties of supported lipid bilayers.

•Gangliosides significantly slow the supported lipid bilayer (SLB) formation process.•Terminal sialic acids slow process more than internal sialic acids.•Calcium speeds up sluggish SLB formation and helps form complete bilayers.•Lipid diffusion in membranes slows with increased ganglioside content.•Binding kinetics of antibodies to gangliosides in SLBs are measured with QCM-D.