The organoalkoxysilane lipid 1 was synthesized according to a literature procedure, and is known to spontaneously form organic–inorganic hybrid vesicles in aqueous media.9d Hybrid bicelles were prepared by the simple hydration of the lipid mixture consisting of a long-chain organoalkoxysilane lipid (1) and a short-chain phospholipid DHPC (2).z The molar ratio of the two lipids (7 : 2 for 1 to 2) was chosen according to the standard composition for the formation of monodispersed phospholipid bicelles.4 NMR spectroscopy revealed that the hydrolysis of the ethoxysilyl group of 1 took place within 2 hours after the preparation (see ESIw, Fig. S1). Thus, the obtained suspension of bicelles was incubated at room tempera- ture overnight to complete the sol–gel reaction. The FT-IR spectrum of the resultant hybrid bicelle exhibited a significant peak at 1100 cm