Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface
This study reports double-stacked planar bilayer lipid membranes (pBLMs) formed using a droplet contact method (DCM) for microfluidic formation with five-layered microchannels that have four micro guide pillars. pBLMs are valuable for analyzing membrane proteins and modeling cell membranes. Furtherm...
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doaj-e43f12b78fb24ed7b256b4026d8f61702020-11-24T21:20:57ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2018-05-019525310.3390/mi9050253mi9050253Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil InterfaceKan Shoji0Ryuji Kawano1Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-8588, JapanDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo 184-8588, JapanThis study reports double-stacked planar bilayer lipid membranes (pBLMs) formed using a droplet contact method (DCM) for microfluidic formation with five-layered microchannels that have four micro guide pillars. pBLMs are valuable for analyzing membrane proteins and modeling cell membranes. Furthermore, multiple-pBLM systems have broadened the field of application such as electronic components, light-sensors, and batteries because of electrical characteristics of pBLMs and membrane proteins. Although multiple-stacked pBLMs have potential, the formation of multiple-pBLMs on a micrometer scale still faces challenges. In this study, we applied a DCM strategy to pBLM formation using microfluidic techniques and attempted to form double-stacked pBLMs in micro-meter scale. First, microchannels with micro pillars were designed via hydrodynamic simulations to form a five-layered flow with aqueous and lipid/oil solutions. Then, pBLMs were successfully formed by controlling the pumping pressure of the solutions and allowing contact between the two lipid monolayers. Finally, pore-forming proteins were reconstituted in the pBLMs, and ion current signals of nanopores were obtained as confirmed by electrical measurements, indicating that double-stacked pBLMs were successfully formed. The strategy for the double-stacked pBLM formation can be applied to highly integrated nanopore-based systems.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/9/5/253microfluidic lipid bilayer formationmultiple lipid bilayerswater-oil phase flow |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kan Shoji Ryuji Kawano |
spellingShingle |
Kan Shoji Ryuji Kawano Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface Micromachines microfluidic lipid bilayer formation multiple lipid bilayers water-oil phase flow |
author_facet |
Kan Shoji Ryuji Kawano |
author_sort |
Kan Shoji |
title |
Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface |
title_short |
Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface |
title_full |
Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface |
title_fullStr |
Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface |
title_full_unstemmed |
Microfluidic Formation of Double-Stacked Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes by Controlling the Water-Oil Interface |
title_sort |
microfluidic formation of double-stacked planar bilayer lipid membranes by controlling the water-oil interface |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Micromachines |
issn |
2072-666X |
publishDate |
2018-05-01 |
description |
This study reports double-stacked planar bilayer lipid membranes (pBLMs) formed using a droplet contact method (DCM) for microfluidic formation with five-layered microchannels that have four micro guide pillars. pBLMs are valuable for analyzing membrane proteins and modeling cell membranes. Furthermore, multiple-pBLM systems have broadened the field of application such as electronic components, light-sensors, and batteries because of electrical characteristics of pBLMs and membrane proteins. Although multiple-stacked pBLMs have potential, the formation of multiple-pBLMs on a micrometer scale still faces challenges. In this study, we applied a DCM strategy to pBLM formation using microfluidic techniques and attempted to form double-stacked pBLMs in micro-meter scale. First, microchannels with micro pillars were designed via hydrodynamic simulations to form a five-layered flow with aqueous and lipid/oil solutions. Then, pBLMs were successfully formed by controlling the pumping pressure of the solutions and allowing contact between the two lipid monolayers. Finally, pore-forming proteins were reconstituted in the pBLMs, and ion current signals of nanopores were obtained as confirmed by electrical measurements, indicating that double-stacked pBLMs were successfully formed. The strategy for the double-stacked pBLM formation can be applied to highly integrated nanopore-based systems. |
topic |
microfluidic lipid bilayer formation multiple lipid bilayers water-oil phase flow |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/9/5/253 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT kanshoji microfluidicformationofdoublestackedplanarbilayerlipidmembranesbycontrollingthewateroilinterface AT ryujikawano microfluidicformationofdoublestackedplanarbilayerlipidmembranesbycontrollingthewateroilinterface |
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1726001981441441792 |