Effect of cations/polycations on the efficiency of formation of a hybrid bilayer membrane that mimics the inner mitochondrial membrane

► Effect of cations and polycations on the formation of hybrid bilayer membranes. ► In the presence of cations the complete formation of an HBM is facilitated. ► The required time for lipid layer formation is reduced several times. ► Spermine and Ca2+ increase the amount of adsorbed phospholipids, compared to Na+. ► Mechanism of HBM formation is related with destabilization of hydration forces in the vesicle surface.