title: Automated lipid membrane formation using a polydimethylsiloxane film for ion channel measurements.
abstract: A black lipid membrane (BLM) is a powerful platform for studying the electrophysiology of cell membranes as well as transmembrane proteins. However, BLMs have disadvantages in terms of stability, accessibility, and transportability, which preclude their industrial applications. To resolve these issues, frozen membrane precursor (MP) was devised to improve the transportability and storability of BLMs. As described previously, MP is a storable and transportable platform that can be delivered to the point-of-use, where BLMs are automatically formed upon thawing at room temperature. However, MP has an inconsistent thinning-out time, ranging from 30 min to 24 h, as well as a low success rate of BLM formation (~27%), which make it undesirable for practical use. In our study, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was introduced as a replacement for conventionally used Teflon film to control thinning-out time. As such, we used a PDMS thin-film, a porous-structured hydrophobic polymer, and squalene, a high viscosity solvent, to facilitate membrane formation, whereas the absorption rates of solvents were controlled to achieve consistent BLM formation time. We successfully reduced thinning-out time down to <1 h as well as enhanced the success rate of BLM formation to greater than 80%. Moreover, we demonstrated the feasibility of our platform for use in drug screening using gramicidin A and guanidine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University , Incheon, 402-751, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyunil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Sangbaek
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joongjin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yeong-Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jae Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Young-Rok
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Joon
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D001331:Automation; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019791:Guanidine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity; D013185:Squalene / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D006096:Gramicidin; C013830:baysilon; D013185:Squalene; D019791:Guanidine