Stable lipid bilayers based on micro- and nano-fabrication as a platform for recording ion-channel activities

Anal Sci. 2012;28(11):1049-57. doi: 10.2116/analsci.28.1049.

Abstract

In this review, we will discuss our recent approaches for the formation of mechanically stable bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) by combining with BLM formation and micro- and nano-fabrication techniques. BLMs were prepared across a microaperture fabricated in silicon (Si) chips or nanoporous alumina films using a minimized amount of organic solvent. Although BLMs spanned over the porous alumina film showed better electrical properties, such as background current noise and current transient, BLMs suspended in a thin Si(3)N(4) septum showed a much superior BLM stability. The BLMs showed tolerance to a high voltage of ±1 V, a membrane lifetime of >40 h, and tolerance to repetitive solution exchanges. Application to a drug screening system has been examined by using the human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel as an illustrative example. The potentiality of the present system as a platform of the high-throughput analysis for ion-channel protein is also discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aluminum Oxide / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry*
  • Lipid Bilayers / metabolism*
  • Porosity
  • Silicon / chemistry
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Aluminum Oxide
  • Silicon