title: Bilayer lipid membranes from falling droplets.
abstract: We describe a system that provides a rapid and simple way of forming suspended lipid bilayers within a microfluidic platform from an aqueous droplet. Bilayer lipid membranes are created in a polymeric device by contacting monolayers formed at a two-phase liquid-liquid interface. Microdroplets, containing membrane proteins, are injected onto an electrode positioned above an aperture machined through a conical cavity that is filled with a lipid-alkane solution. The formation of the BLM depends solely on the device geometry and leads to spontaneous formation of lipid bilayers simply by dispensing droplets of buffer. When an aqueous droplet containing transmembrane proteins or proteoliposomes is injected, straightforward electrophysiology measurements are possible. This method is suitable for incorporation into lab-on-a-chip devices and allows for buffer exchange and electrical measurements.
authors.affiliation: School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Highfield, So17 1BJ, Southampton, UK. M.Zagnoni@elec.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagnoni
authors.forename: Mairi E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sandison
authors.forename: Phedra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marius
authors.forename: Hywel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D004594:Electrophysiology; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008839:Microelectrodes; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers