title: Functionalized Vesicles by Microfluidic Device.
abstract: In recent years, lipid vesicles have become popular vehicles for the creation of biosensors. Vesicles can hold reaction components within a selective permeable membrane that provides an ideal environment for membrane protein biosensing elements. The lipid bilayer allows a protein to retain its native structure and function, and the membrane fluidity can allow for conformational changes and physiological interactions with target analytes. Here, we present two methods for the production of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) within a microfluidic device that can be used as the basis for a biosensor. The vesicles are produced from water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion templates using a nonvolatile oil phase. To create the GUVs, the oil can be removed via extraction with ethanol, or by altering the interfacial tension between the oil and carrier solution causing the oil to retract into a cap on one side of the structure, leaving behind an exposed lipid bilayer. Methods to integrate sensing elements and membrane protein pores onto the vesicles are also introduced in this work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697 2715, USA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697 2715, USA.
authors.forename: Shih-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697 2715, USA. aplee@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004655:Emulsions; D004867:Equipment Design; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008853:Microscopy; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D053835:Unilamellar Liposomes
keywords: Artificial cell; Biosensor; Dewetting; Giant unilamellar vesicle; Microfluidics; Solvent extraction