Planar lipid bilayer reconstitution with a micro-fluidic system

Lab Chip. 2004 Oct;4(5):502-5. doi: 10.1039/b405967k. Epub 2004 Sep 2.

Abstract

A planar lipid bilayer which is widely used for the electrophysiological study of membrane proteins in laboratories is reconstituted using a micro-fluidic system, in a manner that is suitable for automated processing. We fabricated micro-channels on both sides of the substrate, which are connected through a 100-200 microm aperture, and showed that the bilayer can be formed at the aperture by flowing the lipid solution and buffer, alternately. Parylene coating is found to be suitable for both bilayer formation and electric noise reduction. Future applications include a high-sensitivity ion sensor chip and a high-throughput drug screening device.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Lipid Bilayers*
  • Microfluidics / instrumentation*
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Xylenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Lipid Bilayers
  • Polymers
  • Xylenes
  • parylene