title: Enhanced long-term stability for single ion channel recordings using suspended poly(lipid) bilayers.
abstract: Black lipid membranes (BLMs) are widely used for recording the activity of incorporated ion channel proteins. However, BLMs are inherently unstable structures that typically rupture within a few hours after formation. Here, stabilized BLMs were formed using the polymerizable lipid bis-dienoyl phosphatidylcholine (bis-DenPC) on glass pipettes of approximately 10 microm (I.D.). After polymerization, these BLMs maintained steady conductance values for several weeks, as compared to a few hours for unpolymerized membranes. The activity of an ion channel, alpha-hemolysin, incorporated into bis-DenPC BLMs prior to polymerization, was maintained for 1 week after BLM formation and polymerization. These lifetimes are a substantial improvement over those achievable with conventional BLM technologies. Polymerized BLMs containing functional ion channels may represent an enabling technology for development of robust biosensors and drug screening devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, 1306 East University Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Heitz
authors.forename: Juhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Henry K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Aspinwall
authors.forename: S Scott
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Saavedra
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines