Free-standing lipid bilayers in silicon chips-membrane stabilization based on microfabricated apertures with a nanometer-scale smoothness.
In the present study, we propose a method for preparing stable free-standing bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). The BLMs were prepared in a microfabricated aperture with a smoothly tapered edge, which was prepared in a nanometer-thick Si(3)N(4) septum by the wet etching method. Owing to this structure, the stress on lipid bilayers at the contact with the septum was minimized, leading to remarkable membrane stability. The BLMs were not broken by applying a constant voltage of +/-1 V. The membrane lifetime was 15-45 h with and without an incorporated gramicidin channel. Gramicidin single-channel currents were recorded from the same BLM preparation when the aqueous solutions surrounding the BLM were repeatedly exchanged, demonstrating the tolerance of the present BLM to repetitive solution exchanges. Such stable membranes enable analysis of channel functions under various solution conditions from the same BLM, which will open up a variety of applications including a high throughput drug screening for ion channels.
Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan. ahirano@bme.tohoku.ac.jp
Ayumi
A
Hirano-Iwata
Kouji
K
Aoto
Azusa
A
Oshima
Tasuku
T
Taira
Ryo-taro
RT
Yamaguchi
Yasuo
Y
Kimura
Michio
M
Niwano
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D055616:Microtechnology; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D006096:Gramicidin; C032734:silicon nitride