Efficient Lipid Bilayer Formation by Dipping Lipid-Loaded Microperforated Sheet in Aqueous Solution
Nobuo Misawa,
Satoshi Fujii,
Koki Kamiya,
Toshihisa Osaki,
Shoji Takeuchi
Affiliations
Nobuo Misawa
Artificial Cell Membrane Systems Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
Satoshi Fujii
Artificial Cell Membrane Systems Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
Koki Kamiya
Artificial Cell Membrane Systems Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
Toshihisa Osaki
Artificial Cell Membrane Systems Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
Shoji Takeuchi
Artificial Cell Membrane Systems Group, Kanagawa Institute of Industrial Science and Technology, 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0012, Japan
This paper describes a method for a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) formation using a perforated sheet along with an open chamber. Microscopic observation of the formed membrane showed a typical droplet interface bilayer. We proved that the formed membrane was a BLM based on electrical measurements of the membrane protein α-hemolysin, which produces nanopores in BLMs. Unlike the conventional approach for BLM formation based on the droplet contact method, this method provides aqueous surfaces with no organic solvent coating layer. Hence, this method is suitable for producing BLMs that facilitate the direct addition of chemicals into the aqueous phase.
