Transmembrane Potential Monitoring Using a Field‐Effect Transistor‐Based Flexible Device System

Abstract

Abstract Transmembrane transport analysis is essential for understanding cell physiological processes. Based on an artificial simulation of internal and external cellular environment, this paper introduces an innovative approach to investigate the microscopic behavior of small molecules through porin protein under mechanical curvature of lipid membrane. A flexible device system is developed, enabling quantitative electronic transmembrane analysis. The key transistor comprises a flexible, microporous electrode covered with the support lipid bilayers (SLBs) to mimic artificial cellular membrane, serving as an extended gate of the field‐effect transistor (FET). The transmembrane behaviors of charged ions and small molecules can be effectively monitored in real time by this FET‐based flexible device system. The flexibility of the electrode allows analyzing the transmembrane behavior under different mechanical bends. In this study, the developed flexible device is employed for the first time to simulate the mechanical bending of cellular membrane embedded with channel proteins and to monitor the transmembrane behavior of small molecules, thus providing a more authentic representation of membrane protein at a curved state. This approach holds the potential to contribute as a platform‐based technological advancement, supporting research into toxicological mechanisms and facilitating drug screening endeavors.

Keywords

• field‐effect transistor (FET)
• flexible device
• mechanical bending
• supported lipid bilayers (SLBs)
• transmembrane transport