BUBBLE-ASSISTED RE-FORMATION OF INDIVIDUAL LIPID BILAYERS IN ARRAYED DEVICE

This paper describes a method capable of individual and selective re-formation of ruptured BLMs (bilayer lipid membranes) by using air bubbles in arrayed devices. BLMs play an important role in membrane protein studies, biosensor applications, and drug screening. In such applications, data throughput is a key issue, but BLMs are easily ruptured by physical/electrical disturbance, which makes it difficult to operate a large BLM array. In this work, we propose a bubble-assisted BLM re-formation method: An aqueous phase is divided by a small air bubble covered with a lipid monolayer. After the bubble departed, the divided aqueous phases are brought into contact with the lipid monolayer, resulting in formation of BLM. This method enables selective BLM re-formation in a multi-channel device. To verify individual and selective BLM re-formation using this method, we developed a 4ch bubble-assisted device and demonstrated repetitive BLM re-formation.

Automated summary

This paper describes a method using air bubbles in arrayed devices to selectively reform ruptured bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs). BLMs are important in membrane protein studies, biosensor applications, and drug screening. The proposed bubble-assisted method allows for selective BLM reformation in multi-channel devices, addressing the challenge of easily ruptured BLMs in high-throughput applications.