title: Nano for bio: nanopore arrays for stable and functional lipid bilayer membranes (Mini Review).
abstract: The usefulness of nanotechnology for biotechnological applications is frequently emphasized. The recent development for using nanostructured materials as supports for free-standing lipid bilayers is briefly reviewed. The authors then demonstrate that the stability of fragile free-standing lipid bilayers in nanopores is enhanced up to days depending on the surface chemistry, the lipid composition, and the diameter of the pores. The insertion of a pore forming protein into bilayers can be monitored over time as a stepwise decrease of membrane resistance. Since membrane proteins are major drug targets, such stable and functional proteo-bilayers integrated in microfluidics are the key components of in vitro devices for drug screening. This conference paper reviews the recent literature and provides preliminary results from own research.
authors.affiliation: Biomolecular Research, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland. louis.tiefenauer@psi.ch
authors.forename: Louis X
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Tiefenauer
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Studer