Bilirubin adsorption on self-assembled phospholipid bilayers was studied using quartz crystal microbalance, and factors influencing its adsorption such as pH, temperature, and solution ionic strength were discussed in detail. The results show the amount of adsorbed bilirubin on self-assembled phospholipid bilayers is small at higher temperature and large at higher pH and solution ionic strength, and the adsorption kinetic parameter estimated from the in situ frequency measurement is (1.8 +/- 10.27) x 10(6) M-1 (mean S.D.). With the present method, the desorption of adsorbed bilirubin caused by human serum albumin and the photoincluced decomposition of adsorbed bilirubin under light illumination were also examined. QCM measurement provides a useful method for monitoring the adsorption/desorption process of bilirubin on self-assembled phospholipid bilayers. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.